Upsilon Sigma Phi to conduct probe on #LonsiLeaks controversy

Upsilon Sigma Phi logo (Photo: Upsilon Sigma Phi/Facebook)

Upsilon Sigma Phi said it will conduct an investigation into the supposed conversation of some of its members that went viral recently, earning the ire of many netizens as it contains “highly offensive statements” against different sectors of the society.

“In light of these recent events, we have conducted an initial investigation on the matter, and we will relay to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) all information at our disposal,” Upsilon, a fraternity based in University of the Philippines (UP) said in its statement on Friday, November 23.

“We will unconditionally cooperate with the efforts of the OVCSA not only in gathering facts but in ensuring accountability consistent with the dictates of due process,” it added.

According to Upsilon, it was in November 20 when an anonymous source circulated screenshots of the alleged conversation attributed to the members of its fraternity, showing various slurs and misogynistic comments against women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, Lumads, and Muslims, among others.

Speaking against women, a supposed fratman said, “Tang*na kasing mga babae, salita nang salita. Alam  naman ng lahat na kaya lang sila binigyan ni Lord ng bibig ay para meron silang magagamit sa pag ch*pa (Son of a b*tch, these women keep on talking. Everyone knows that the Lord gave them a mouth to use it for blowj*bs).”

Another alleged fratman, meanwhile, said he believes that “ugly” women should be “killed on sight” so that they won’t “contaminate” the gene pool.

UP is known for supporting indigenous groups’ rights; however, a supposed Upsilon member seemed that he does not share the same view with the university as he said that Lumads should just be “killed.”

The alleged fratmen also made the Muslims the topic of their conversation with one saying, “Kung ang sabon ay inimbento para linisin ang katawan, ang bomba ay inimbento para linisin ang Mindanao (If a soap is invented to clean the body, a bomb, on the other hand was invented to clean Mindanao),” while the other said, “Tang*na. Maniniwala na nga lang sa Diyos, doon pa sa mali (Son of a b*tch. They believe in God but in the wrong one).”

In its statement, Upsilon said it condemns all acts of discrimination, especially against the mentioned sectors.

“Many student leaders who are members of our Fraternity have time and again led and worked with organizations and individuals to fight for equality. We will continue to do so because this is what we stand for,” the group stressed.

“The student members of the Fraternity take these accusations very seriously and will not tolerate members espousing such backward, misogynistic, and discriminatory views,” it continued.

Upsilon also expressed empathy to people who have been affected by the postings and asked for sobriety as they do not want to “further aggravate any harm.”

Threats

Amid this #LonsiLeaks controversy, a certain Cleve Arguelles posted on Facebook that a UP Diliman student was “abducted and beaten up” inside the campus on Thursday night after he received threats that included raping his girlfriend, from the alleged members of the fraternity.

The name of the student was not revealed, but he is identified as Twitter user @iskolarspeaks, a known online personality who has been publicly criticizing Upsilon.

On Twitter, @iskolarspeaks notified everyone that he is fine, obtaining nothing but a “busted lips, a slightly more singkit (chinky) right eye, and a whoozy head.”

“I just need to rest for now. No worries, I still remember my name, recite my ABCs backwards, and well cute pa rin ako (I’m still cute) bang bang,” he wrote to make light of the situation.

Another Facebook user, Roseball Toledo, also posted a screenshot of a message sent to her on Friday morning by a supposed fratman member, telling her to take down her post if she does not want something bad to happen to her sorority sisters.

“To whoever this is– I doubt this is anything but an empty threat but BY GOD SUBUKAN NIYO LANG (do not dare to try),” Toledo wrote in her caption.

“THE DAY YOU LAY A FINGER ON ANY ONE OF MY SISSES IS THE DAY I BURN YOUR SORRY EXCUSE FOR A FRATERNITY TO THE GROUND,” she added.

The screenshots of the supposed conversation of some Upsilon members became the talk of the town just a few days after the fraternity celebrated its Centennial Anniversary last November 18.