A case of trial by publicity?
The death of University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) senior student Cris Anthony Mendez has been the talk of the town for the last two weeks. Mendez, a 20-year-old councilor of the local college student council, died on his way to the hospital last August 27 after sustaining bruises all over his body.
Last August 30, the report “Biktima ng Hazing?” in 24 Oras seemed to insinuate that the UP-based Sigma Rho Fraternity and its members have something to do with Mendez’s death. Mendez allegedly applied for membership in the fraternity, some reports said.
24 Oras reported that UP students Miguel Francisco Cruz and Ariel Paolo Ante, who are said to be Sigma Rho members, have not been attending classes since the Mendez incident broke out. Ante is the chairperson of the UP NCPAG student council and was reportedly the last person seen with Mendez alive. Cruz’s father reportedly was one of the people who took Mendez to the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Hospital.
The report did not explain how the absences of these students relate to the Mendez case. It also gave the student number of Cruz, a private identification of UP students.
Without giving the proper context why Sigma Rho is being connected to the case, the viewers could easily be led to think that Cruz and Ante are guilty. There is no corroborating data to prove this or otherwise since the case is still under the investigation of the UP administration and the police.
As of this time, Ante and Cruz are not considered suspects. However, investigators are inviting them to come out and shed light on the case.
Sigma Rho has yet to give a statement regarding the involvement of the fraternity to the death of Mendez. Officials of the fraternity in UP Diliman, Quezon City, face a 30-day suspension from the university to ensure an impartial investigation.
Hi! I would just like to ask if anybody can define “trial by publicity” for me? I badly need its definition for my finals this Friday.
-sophomore mc