Frat war: UP student council head faces impeachment

MANILA, Philippines – His term as the chairperson of the University of the Student Council in UP Diliman has just started but JP Delas Nieves might well be on his way out.

On Friday, July 4, Councilor Allan Pangilinan filed an impeachment case against Delas Nieves over the fraternity-related incident that took place in UP on June 18.  

The incident involved 10 suspects who attacked 4 other students – reportedly members of the Alpha Sigma fraternity – with lead pipes and a baseball bat. The suspects are allegedly members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity to which Delas Nieves belongs.

The filing of the impeachment complaint came after the ruling student party in the university, UP ALYANSA, expelled Delas Nieves in the wake of his refusal to resign from his fraternity.

As head of the council leading the investigation on the incident, Delas Nieves was given until June 29 to tender his resignation from the fraternity “to maintain the impartiality of the council in [their] efforts against fraternity-related violence.”

Delas Nieves refused.

“Ngunit hindi ako magbibitiw sa Upsilon dahil ako ay patuloy na naniniwala sa adhikain ng aking fraternity na nagsusulong ng kagalingan at paglilingkod ng para sa pag-unlad ng pamayanan,” Delas Nieves said.

(I will not resign from the fraternity because I believe in its advocacy to uphold excellence and service for the development of the society.)

He added that whoever was responsible for the recent violence should come forward and answer for their actions. “Hindi dapat kanlungin ng Upsilon ang sinumang may kinalaman para hindi na madawit ang ibang walang sala,” Delas Nieves added. (Upsilon should not protect those who are involved in the incident in order to spare the innocent.)

Violations

According to the UP Journalism Club, the impeachment trial is scheduled on July 13.

“In this failure, he is jeopardizing the efforts of the council against frat-related violence. Our motives and actions against FRV will be put into question. This we cannot tolerate, especially when justice and accountability hang in the balance,” the impeachment statement said. (READ: UP’s gangland wars)

Pangilinan the following as basis for the impeachment complaint:

• Article 10, Section 2a: Any willful violation of the Constitution is grounds for impeachment.
• Article 10, Section 2b: Any gross neglect of duty is grounds for impeachment
• Article 10, Section 2d: Any form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of the council is grounds of impeachment

Upsilon Sigma Phi is one of the oldest fraternities in Asia and the oldest student organization of UP. Its prominent members include UP President Alfredo Pascual, Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Catapang Jr, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, and the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos.

It is the same fraternity responsible for a 2014 hazing incident that injured a 17-year-old UP student. – Rappler.com