Sigma Rho Fraternity

The Sigma Rho Fraternity is a Law-based fraternity in the University of the Philippines College of Law. It is the oldest of its kind in Asia and has been in continuous existence for more than 75 years, having been formally organized in 1938. It celebrated its Golden year in 1988. The Greek initials ΣΡ of Sigma Rho stand for the initials of Sanchez Roman, a Spanish jurist whose scholarly commentaries on the Civil Code of Spain were authoritative references used by the students of the UP College of Law.[5]

The fraternity’s presiding officer is known as the Grand Archon, which means Chief Magistrate in ancient Greece. The first person to ever have served as the fraternity's Grand Archon was George V. McLure, an American Law student from the UP College of Law.[6]

In 1994, Sigma Rho member and UP Law student Dennis Venturina was killed after an attack by members of another fraternity.[7]

In, 2000, Den Daniel Reyes, a member of another fraternity, was killed in a scuffle with members of the Sigma Rho Fraternity. Reyes suffered multiple stab wounds inflicted by long knives and died not long after.[8]

In 2007, Cris Mendez, a 20-year-old graduating UP undergraduate student allegedly died during an initiation rite with the Sigma Rho.[9] Former Senate President Jovito Salonga has resigned as member of the Sigma Rho fraternity because of this incident.[10]

In 2019, a Sigma Rho member killed himself after an exposé on alleged conversations among the Sigma Rho members, including photos of hazing rituals, paraphernalia, hazing victims, and hateful content, was published online.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]