SC upholds frat war murder convictions

MANILA, Philippines - After almost 20 years, the Supreme Court (SC) affirmed the Court of Appeals (CA) decision that found five members of the Scintilla Juris Fraternity guilty of murdering a member of the Sigma Rho Fraternity. 

In the 28-page decision, penned by SC Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen, the High Court said while they affirmed the CA’s ruling, they made the modification that the five convicts – Danilo Feliciano Jr., Julius Victor Medalla, Christopher Soliva, Warren Zingapan and Robert Michael Beltran Alvir – also be found guilty for attempted murder.

The SC’s Third Division ruled that the five men should be liable for the murder of Dennis Venturina and the attempted murder of Mervin Natalicio, Cesar Mangrobang Jr., Leandro Lachica, Arnel Fortes and Cristobal Gaston Jr. 

“It is not only the loss of one promising young life; rather, it is also the effect on the five other lives whose once bright futures are now put in jeopardy because of one senseless act of bravado. There is now more honor for them to accept their responsibility and serve the consequences of their actions. There is, however, nothing that they can do to bring back Dennis Venturina or fully compensate for his senseless and painful loss,” the SC said. 

The SC reminded them that “giting at dangal (heroism and honor)” are words used in the anthem of the University of the Philippines (UP).

 â€œIt colors the stories of many who choose to expend their energy in order that our people will have better lives. Fraternity rumbles are an anathema, an immature and useless expenditure of testosterone. It fosters a culture that retards manhood. It is devoid of ‘giting at dangal,’” the SC added.

Case records show that on Dec. 8, 1994, seven Sigma Rho members were eating lunch at the Beach House canteen near the main library of the UP campus in Diliman, Quezon City when they were attacked by several masked men carrying baseball bats and lead pipes.

During the assault, the masks of some of the assailants came off and the victims recognized them.

Venturina, who was hit on the head and various parts of his body, died two days later.

The results of an autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation showed Venturina had several skull fractures and suffered from inter-cranial hemorrhage.