FINALLY, may just be a light at the end of the tunnel on the fraternities’ row.

Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III expressed his readiness to sponsor an ordinance in the Sangguniang Panlungsod to regulate fraternities in the city but clarified that it is not to ban these as this is a violation of the freedom of association.

Differing with some of his colleagues on the issue, Guadiz said the activities of fraternities need to be regulated limiting these to useful legal activities.

A lawyer, Guadiz revealed that there exists a law regulating fraternities – the anti-hazing law –but which he describes to very general in scope and needs added parameters to suit local situations and implementation.

He said an ordinance is necessary because there are circumstances and situations unique to Dagupan City that are not covered by the national law.

“We have to call for a session among the educators in Dagupan City by next so we can discuss on how to regulate the fraternities,” Guadiz said.

Meanwhile, Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo said the city council welcomes the challenge of Duque lawyer Gonzalo Duque to the city government to address the problems involving fraternities.

He, however, maintained that the city council members cannot ignore the bill of rights enshrined in the Constitution guaranteeing a person the right to associate as well as to disassociate with anyone.

He said there is unanimity among the councilors that banning fraternities is out of the question.

Guadiz said regulation is timely especially because fraternities are now being organized in high school where the culture of violence can be taught.

“We will regulate fraternities and we will hold fraternity leaders, called chancellors, liable for all the activities of their members which result in violence or injuries to persons and property,” he said.

While schools can regulate the fraternities inside the campus, he pointed out that the activities of fraternity members outside the campus become the responsibility of the city being the local governing authority.

“Banning is definitely out of the question. Regulation is the key”, said Guadiz who is a member of a law fraternity at San Beda College where he studied law. Among his fraternity brothers include Peace and Order Council chairman Gonzalo Duque, former Dagupan City Vice Mayor Teodoro Manaois III and lawyer Francisco Baraan III.

On the need to regulate the fraternities, Tamayo said several students representing different schools in the city clarified at a recent council committee hearing that there is no problem involving fraternities.

But he said the process of evaluation is not yet over as the councilors are awaiting the filing of a proposed ordinance on the matter from the chairman on the committee on peace and order, Councilor Luis Samson Jr. Samson is also an official of the University of Luzon.

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