Man 'brands' students he wants as fraternity members

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered yesterday the arrest of a criminology graduate who reportedly forced students into joining his fraternity by branding their hands.

Lim told Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Ernesto Tendero that several high school students, mostly girls aged 12 to 15, complained that on separate occasions last month, Gilbert Atienza-Sienna, 23, allegedly asked them to join his fraternity, called “M5.” Sienna’s last reported address was at 2614 P. Guevarra street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

When they refused, he said he would just teach them a new kind of handshake. Once he gets hold of a student’s hand, he would allegedly brand it using a hot thumbtack wrapped in tin foil.

One of the complainants said Sienna reportedly dragged her to a waiting tricycle, where the same ritual was done on her.

Lim said Sienna was reportedly aided by his brother, Jerwin, a high school student; and Jerwin’s schoolmates, John and Joshua Cinco and a certain “Banjo.”

The complainants, accompanied by their parents, went to the Manila City Hall to seek Lim’s help. They told Lim that the principal of their school, Manuel Luis Quezon High School (MLQHS) in Blumentritt, allegedly refused them admission because of the burn mark on their hand.

Lim, upon learning that Sienna’s group reportedly victimized at least 20 others, ordered the division of city schools to talk to the principal of MLQHS and have the students admitted.

He told Tendero to arrest Sienna and the rest of his group and charge them accordingly.

Aside from charges of physical injuries filed by the students, Lim ordered Tendero to file additional charges of coercion against Sienna, whom the students claim is threatening them for lodging a complaint against him.