UP Sigma Rho

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

THE SIGMA RHO FRATERNITY (ΣΡ)

Founded	1938 University of the Philippines College of Law
Type	University
Scope	University of the Philippines
Motto	Seekers of the Right
Colors	Maroon and Green
Symbol	Fraternity seal
Chapters	None
Headquarters	University of the Philippines-Diliman Quezon City, NCR, Philippines
Homepage	http://www.thesigmarho.org

The Sigma Rho Fraternity is a University of the Philippines College of Law-based Fraternity. The Sigma Rho was formally organized in 1938 and was officially recognized by the University of the Philippines in 1939.

1 History
2 Notable Members
3 Related violence
- 3.1 Fraternity war
- 3.2 Hazing
4 References

[edit] History

The Sigma Rho was initially made up of UP College of Law students. In the 50's, it eventually expanded its membership base to undergraduate students, recruiting students from UP Manila and UP Los Baños. The Sigma Rho fraternity however, maintains its singular existence and has no recognized chapter outside of UP Diliman.

[edit] Notable Members

Among its notable members include:

Senator Marcelo Fernan
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile
Senator Franklin Drilon
Senator John Henry Osmena
Senator Edgardo Angara
House Representative Rolex Suplico
House Representative Arthur Defensor
House Representative Luis Villafuerte
House Representative Sonny Angara
House Representative Simeon Datumanong
Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo
Former Solicitor-General Frank Chavez
NTC Commissioner Pope Solis
Lipa City Mayor Oscar Gozos
Former U.N. Secretary General Rafael Salas
Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr.
Leyte Governor Raul Daza
Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad
Atty. Salvador Panelo
Atty. Nicanor Gatmaytan
Atty. Melenio "Batas" Mauricio
Sportsman/Businessman Alfonso "Boy" Reyno Jr.
Former Pangasinan Vice-Governor and House Representative Ranjit Shahani
former Philippine Coconut Authority Chairman Atty. Eduardo Escueta
Defense Secretary Avelino "Nonong" Cruz
U.P. Maroons Coach Jose Lipa
Justice Antonio Carpio
Justice Presbi Velasco

[edit] Related violence

[edit] Fraternity war

Sigma Rho has been accused of a number of fraternity-related violence in the University of the Philippines. Three most notable incidents involved Dennis Venturina, Niño Calinao and Cris Mendez. In December 1994, Dennis Venturina, a Sigma Rhoan, died in a riot between Scintilla Juris and Sigma Rho. On February 19, 1999, Niño Calinao, a senior journalism major was shot dead by suspected Sigma Rho members. Calinao was mistaken for a member of the rival fraternity Scintilla Juris, which clashed with Sigma Rho members in a riot a week before the killing.^[1]^[2]. Both incidents happened inside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.

[edit] Hazing

Cris Mendez, a 20-year-old graduating UP student allegedly died during an initiation rite with the fraternity in August 27, 2007. ^[3] Mendez was rushed to Veterans Memorial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Quezon City police investigators found out that Mendez was a victim of hazing due to “bruises all over his body, particularly on the back of his arms and thighs.”

Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and former Senate President Jovito Salonga has resigned as member of the Sigma Rho fraternity because of this incident. In a statement sent to the Inquirer, Salonga, one of the most prominent Sigma Rhoans, said that he was resigning “because of recent events in which Sigma Rho has been involved.”