University of the Philippines Oblation statue at UP Diliman in Quezon City.
INQUIRER PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS
The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman denounced on Thursday the incident involving the members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Beta fraternities.
“The UP Diliman administration condemns the violence yesterday involving Upsilon Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Beta,” UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan said in a statement.
UP said they did not ignore the incident, noting that the violence happened on the day UP Diliman Men’s Basketball Team won a game that advanced them to the Final Four in the UAAP Season 81.
“The irony of the violence did not escape our attention, given that on the same day of the encounters, the UP Diliman Men’s Basketball Team won a game that pushes them into the Final Four or semi-finals,” Tan said.
The university assured that they will file charges against those criminally liable, saying the incident was still under investigation.
“The incidents are being investigated and charges will be filed against those found to be criminally liable. The penalties for violence are severe, and can include expulsion from the university,” he said.
UP then revealed that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident was illegally shared in the media, noting that it would violate the Data Privacy Law.
“This unauthorized release is being investigated and highlights why we need to enforce the Data Privacy Law: CCTV footage, in the wrong hands, can lead to speculation and a violation of due process,” Tan said.