(This blog post continues the roundup entitled The true barbarians of UP. Check back on this page for news updates.)

Almost a month since the death of Cris Anthony Mendez, the case is far from being solved. But there are small breaks, which is good.

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11/23/2207 News Update
Sigma Rhoan loses TRO case vs UP in hazing controversy Belat! Buti nga! Seriously, the fact that he is still in hiding speaks loudly about his innocence, no?

11/20/2007 News Update
Doctor faces civil case filed by Mendez family The Mendez family should get a new lawyer. They should file a medical malpractice case against that doctor. They should also ask the Professional Regulation Commission to strip the doctor of his license. I would have asked for more than Php 8 million. And yeah, almost two months after, still no criminal case filed against anyone. It seems that Sigma Rho has done its coverup job well.

11/08/2007 News Update
4 face obstruction raps in Mendez case Funny, they should charge Santos himself. And that Miko Cruz, too. It has been a month, and these two have been invisible since day 1, isn’t that enough ground to charge them with obstruction of justice?

10/31/2007 News Update
UP studes light candles for dead frat neophytes Two months after, no break in CA’s case.

10/26/2007 News Update
Fratman’s lawyer says UP on ‘a fishing expedition’ Yeah, right. Where’s your client, BTW?

10/24/2007 News Updates
UP fraternity man seeks stop to hearings on Mendez death
Sigma Rho member seeks TRO vs UP
It has been quite awhile since the last update to this post. One Sigma Rho member wants the court to stop the UP Student Disciplinary Tribunal hearings. Remember that the QC Police District is waiting for the results of the SDT hearings before it files a case against Sigma Rho members (see 10/24 update, below).

10/13/2007 Update
Frat violence rears its ugly head not just in UP That is not the point, and the letter writer don’t get it. The point is that a UP student was murdered, and Sigma Rho is likely culprit.

10/10/2007 News Update
Doctor’s son a no show in NBI hazing death inquiry This time, NBI should charge Mico with obstruction of justice. They should not wait any longer.

10/07/2007 News Update
Fraternity men wheel in hope to people with disabilities A UP fraternity tries to find relevance in this time where almost everyone is hostile against fraternities.

10/05/2007 News Updates
Doctor allegedly prevented autopsy on Cris Mendez
Witness says no autopsy done on UP hazing victim
Another witness claims that the doctor immediately had the body released without the benefit of an autopsy. That’s obstruction of justice, plain, clear, and simple.

10/04/2007 News Updates
Decision on case vs UP frat members vital to cops’ probe I get the feeling that QCPD is bluffing. If you have an airtight case, you file it, you arrest the suspects.
NBI gives doc’s son one week to show up Sabi nga sa Filipino, baka ginagapang na ng Sigma Rho para manahimik yung anak ng doktor.

10/03/2007 News Update
NBI to seek UP stude’s help on Mendez slay Icasiano’s mother appeals to Sigma Rho. I think it was useless. There’s no use appealing to murderers.

10/02/2007 News Updates
Doctor in Mendez slay shows up at NBI
Doctor in UP hazing shows up at NBI
Crucial updates, folks. Ties up several loose ends. The most surprising (and wicked) news: the doctor’s first lawyer was supposedly supplied by Sigma Rho. The rogues! They wanted the doctor to stonewall for them! They are really desperate to cover their asses.

10/01/2007 Update
Saguisag on Sigma Rogues and the new writ of amparo Rene Saguisag called Sigma Rho as Sigma Rogues. Heh.

9/29/2007 News Updates
UP files raps vs 12 Sigma Rhoans Note that the complaint is an internal one. Also, a rumor of another hazing death is circulating, and if true, it means that the concerned fraternity has learned from Cris’ death. They have employed calibrated, pre-emptive response (CPR). Shame on you, Gloria Arroyo.
Obstruction of justice charge awaits doctor in Mendez case They should have done this aeons ago. NBI should now check with Immigration, and I would not be surprised if the coward is gone.
Don’t forgo due process in Cris Mendez’s case WTF. Due process? Want due process, mister? How about this? A month after Cris’ death, no one has been charged? The fools who were suspended are all missing in action. You want due process, mister? What you need is a slap in the butt and a brain transplant. Your own needs to be discarded. Fast. Inquirer should have not published such a useless rant. (If you notice, this letter uses a variation of the usual Gloria Arroyo apologists. Go to MLQ3‘s blog and read comments made by Bencard and rego.)

9/28/2007 News Update
Fraternities ‘surprised’ by UP president’s directive Not really related to Cris’ case, but it seems fraternities are having a hard time justifying their existence, even concocting reasons for failure to comply with the UP president’s directive.

9/26/2007 News Updates
NBI says doctor in Mendez slay case could face charges and Last chance for doctor linked to UP hazing – NBI They should have charged him aeons ago. Who knows, the doctor might have fled the country already.

9/25/2007 News Update
Cris Mendez’s ma gets offer to settle case Whether the stranger who made the offer is connected with Sigma Rho or not, I just shake my head in disgust. As if money can buy you a life. Don’t these people get it? They murdered someone, and they should face the law.

9/24/2007 In a letter to Newsbreak, Fulgencio Factoran Jr. explains why he does not intend to resign from Sigma Rho. He went on great lengths to explain his decision. And yes, like Villafuerte, he does not condemn his own fraternity for killing Cris Mendez. Boo.

“By far, the biggest lesson I have learned from the Sigma Rho fraternity is the value of friendship. A sub lesson is that I should not desert a friend when he is in crisis, no matter how badly he has behaved.” At least for us, we support our friends BUT WE DO NOT CONDONE THEIR WRONG ACTIONS. That’s our difference, Mr. Factoran. Also: now that Mendez is dead, where are your brods? Sigma Rho might have been good to you, but from the rate things are going, the current members and alumni of your fraternity has not been good on Mendez – that includes you, Mr. Factoran. How do you reconcile that, Mr. Factoran?

9/21/2007 News Update
UP president orders fraternities: Justify your existence I hope this is not just tough talk.

9/20/2007 News Updates
‘Violent frats accept only neophytes who submit to hazing’ “He told the Inquirer that based on a 1996 study conducted by Sociology professor Ricardo Zarco, the Sigma Rho fraternity had the most number of involvement in violent incidents in the university.” Heh. How I wished numbers were quoted.
NBI to quiz funeral parlor exec It seems that the funeral parlor has a lot of questions to answer. Is there a Sigma Rhoan in that business?
A code of secrecy and silence Someone wrote a letter to the editor, wondering about Sigma Rho’s silence. Why even ask?

9/19/2007 News Updates
UP frat violence forum seeks justice for Mendez That’s the ticket. Bring it on, indeed.
UP to Sigma Rho: Go ahead, sue us Kapal talaga ng mukha. Magpakita muna kayo bago kayo manakot, mga duwag.

9/19/2007 Blog Posts
Mafia Culture “I weep for the wasted life of Cris, so young and with a bright future. Now he is but another statistic in this barbaric crime whose perpetrators are being cuddled by their influential criminal brothers. To these criminals, justice may not be served in this life but who knows in the next? Pray too that your sons will not face animals like you when their turn comes. Justice can come from the most unlikely places and a crime cannot be hidden for eternity.

So no matter how Sigma Rho tries to justify/glorify its organization, its nothing but a gang that revolves around the culture of the Mafia.”

One of Their Own “At dinner a few nights ago, some brods and I talked about possible ways of helping to ensure that something like the Mendez case should never happen to our residents, and of more sharply focusing the fraternity’s energies on academics and public service. I know that to many, that’ll be like teaching a dinosaur to dance, but I’d like to be more hopeful—while bearing in mind that the bottomline for fraternities is, if they can’t guarantee the safety and well-being of their members and recruits, then they’re better off dissolved. Worse than becoming irrelevant, they can be dangerous. If the alumni brods want whatever glorious traditions they may have begun to carry on to this new century, then they should take the lead in reshaping the mindsets of the young, and not condone any act of violence—even and especially if it’s perpetrated by one of their own.”

9/18/2007 News Updates
Witness confirms Mendez joined frat initiation rites Finally, someone connects CA’s murder with Sigma Rho.
UP Diliman campus blooms with ‘justice’ posters Well, I hope this is not just a prank. And oh, former Senator Jovito Salonga resigns from Sigma Rho. Hurrah!
Sigma Rho alumni chief wants Salonga apology I think Filipino words can best sum this news up: ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA. What gall. I can only shake my head in disgust.

9/18/2007 Blog Posts
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness. . .” (Matthew 3:3) “The newspapers today speak of a real man standing for his principles and standing by his word, even when it is unpopular, even when it goes against the grain, even when it is not expedient, for so long as it is the right thing to do.”

Of Justice and Teardrops (in memory of Cris Anthony Mendez, 1987-2007) “See, I may not have actively intended to take a life. That said, the moment that I lacked the foresight to see the consequences of my actions, then I have lost all exoneration from blame. I have to suffer the consequences of my actions, because I am a man who was taught by both of my parents that you have to live this life with as clean a conscience as you can possibly get. If I go to jail, fine. At least I can do my time and get the chance to mend my ways. The person whose death I caused accidentally? He’s not going anywhere. And he never will. I would rather have a clean conscience behind bars than to live my life as a “free” man outside jail, always longing for the voices in my head to keep quiet. Sooner or later, the voices will take over.”