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Like recurring nightmares, fraternity-related deaths have haunted the University of the Philippines multiple times throughout history.

The latest death to rattle the community was that of Cris Anthony Mendez, a fourth year student from the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) who died because of alleged hazing by some members of the Sigma Rho fraternity on August 2007. Mendez, who died on arrival at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, suffered from heavy beatings according to an autopsy report, raising suspicion that he was indeed hazed.

He should’ve turned 21 last March 7, and should be helping his family from Tiaong, Quezon after his supposed graduation after this semester.

12 other deaths were recorded from 1954 to 2007: seven of them have been caused by hazing and four by rumbles amongst warring fraternities.

Alexander Icasiano, a 3rd year student also from NCPAG, died in the hands of his future brothers at the Alpha Phi Beta fraternity (APB) in 1998. After months of trial, several members of the fraternity were convicted and imprisoned for up to two years. Icasiano’s mother was said to have forgiven the fraternity and asked them to count her son as one of their brothers.

Both the deaths of Mendez and Icasiano have been discussed in Howie Severino’s extended I-Witness documentary entitled “Brod is thicker than water” aired September 24 last year.

In his quest, Severino came across various groups calling for the fraternity in question regarding Mendez’ death to surface, and one of them is a candle lighting ceremony held at the College of Law, the home of rival fraternities Sigma Rho and APB. The documentary also looked back at Icasiano’s case, and had his mother and one of the convicted APB members talking about how their lives have been changed since.

While it may seem that the danger is only close to those involved with fraternities, not everyone who died through fraternity-related violence were frat men.

Nino Calinao was the only victim not killed by hazing or rumbles: he was shot while passing time at one of the benches at Palma Hall’s AS walk in 1999. Calinao, Journalism major, was not a member of any fraternity and his death was said to be a “case of a mistaken identity”.

He was bound for graduation later that academic year.

Fraternities have been known for their wide roster of prominent alumni who have been part of the country’s past and present. Their aims consist of producing great minds among their ranks and being of service to their immediate community. But despite these acts of good will, memory of the wasted lives taken by seemingly questionable activities will never fail raise doubts on the various brotherhoods within the university.