SC justice speaks out vs frat violence

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A magistrate long known for his strong stance against fraternity violence added his voice Friday  to critics of fatal initiation rites in light of recent incidents that led to the death of one student and the injury of several others in two Metro Manila universities.

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen warned against the silence surrounding incidents of violence in schools, saying such perpetrates the practice that has led to the death of promising young men over the years.

Leonen posted his sentiments on Twitter but did not make a direct reference to any school.

“Impunity for violence thrives in a climate of unjustified silence and illicit transactions sub rosa (in secrecy). The next victim can be your own son,” Leonen said in a series of tweets Friday.

“No victim of violent crime chooses to be a victim. But we contribute to an environment that creates the perpetrator by our silence. Wise men know this: Brotherhood is earned, it is not produced by inflicting harm on the other. Teach this to our sons and daughters,” he said.

Authorities are currently investigating the death of De La Salle College of St. Benilde (DLSU-CSB) Hotel and Restaurant Management student Guillo Servando, 18, who was killed following initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi last week. Several other recruits were also hospitalized for injuries sustained during the ritual.

On Thursday, reports surfaced that a 17-year-old University of the Philippines student underwent treatment in a hospital for a week due to injuries sustained in initiation rites of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity days before the Servando incident.

Police are known to have complained about the lack of cooperation from parents of the injured neophytes in the DLSU-CSB incident while UP has not released details about the Upsilon case.

Leonen also referred to parts the May 5, 2014 Supreme Court decision he penned, upholding the life sentence on five fraternity men tagged in the 1994 death of UP student Dennis Venturina.

“It is in the hallowed grounds of a university where students, faculty, and research personnel should feel safest. After all, this is where ideas that could probably solve the sordid realities in this world are peacefully nurtured and debated. Universities produce hope. They incubate all our youthful dreams,” Leonen quoted from the decision he wrote. “Yet, there are elements within this academic milieu that trade misplaced concepts of perverse brotherhood for these hopes. Fraternity rumbles exist because of past impunity. This has resulted in a senseless death whose justice is now the subject matter of this case.”