Cops probe college professor for assault

A college engineering instructor is among those now being investigated for assault involving fraternities Alpha Phi Omega and Scouts Royal Brotherhood in an uptown university.

Homicide chief Mario Monilar clarified no one has stepped forward to link college instructor Jay Palima to an assault last November 23 that left engineering student Christian Peñalosa comatose until now.

However, Monilar said two witnesses have claimed Palima assaulted them on the night of Nov. 22 in Nasipit, Talamban.

Engineering students Don Louie Ortega and Jeffrey Duran Marte were reportedly at a burger shop when assaulted by Palima's group.

Palima reportedly confronted Ortega for staring at him. Someone from Palima's group then hit Ortega's forehead, sparking the alleged assault. But the victims did not report the incident to the police.

Yesterday, Homicide summoned Palima and members of SRB to shed light on the Peñalosa case and to answer allegations made by Ortega and Marte against Palima.

But Palima declined to comment on the allegations without the permission of his lawyer, Noel Archival. Archival was reportedly in Bohol yesterday.

The investigation was moved to Tuesday while Archival in a mobile phone conversation with Monilar said that elders of both groups are now discussing measures to remedy the conflict.

Archival told Monilar that the elders of APO would be the one to surrender the alleged perpetrators should it be confirmed that these are from their group.

It was learned yesterday that SRB was actually affiliated with APO. SRB is an organization for high school students who would later join APO when they enter college. The problem reportedly started when SRB members allegedly refused to join APO and remain as SRB members.

Earlier, investigators revealed that the motive behind the attack on Peñalosa stemmed from the rivalry of the two groups in accomplishing school projects.

Homicide Section said Peñalosa was waylaid as he left an eatery.

He was reportedly struck in the head several times with a steel pipe measuring 15 inches long. His attackers left quickly. - Ryan P. Borinaga