Vidal open to a dialogue with warring fraternities

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said he is open to a dialogue with leaders of rival fraternities Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma Phi to resolve their rivalry.

"If I can help, why not? I am open to that so that we can study the reason why it started. That's another thing that I feel horrified whenever I hear of another killing... I'm just wondering the origin of that and why we cannot control it," Vidal said.

Vidal advised the police to be vigilant amid the spate of fraternity killings in the city, but said they sometimes failed to solve the conflict between the two groups.

"They are sometimes successful but sometimes, they are not, but they must be vigilant, they must be interested in saving lives," Vidal said.

He also advised the members of Akrho and Tau Gamma to come to their conscience and listen to the word of God. "If only they will be afforded to listen to the word of God then we would be able to help them," Vidal said. "I also hope that they are not moved by anger and revenge, that is another thing. Because when they do it out of revenge and anger, I don't know when it will end. Because human as we are we are always tempted to take revenge when we are angry," Vidal added.

The violence generated by the rivalry between Akrho and Tau Gamma spilled to other areas in the province, particularly to the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Danao and the town of Carmen.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña had threatened to declare the rival fraternities as a menace to society because of the violence that they allegedly perpetrated.

In 2003, the two groups signed a peace covenant in the presence of the mayor, but their rivalry continues until today. - Jasmin R. Uy