Fifteen persons 11 of them minors, and allegedly members of the Dumaguete City chapter of the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity, were apprehended by the Valencia Philippine National Police while holding initiation rites at Sitio Ogahong, Barangay Balugo, Valencia, Oriental Negros, Sunday afternoon.

Policemen caught the group in the act of conducting physical tests on their recruits, using paddles.

Except for four who are in their late teens and early 20s, most of those nabbed were minors aged between 15 and 17, who are residents of Dumaguete, and Sibulan and Valencia towns.

Those arrested were Jeffrey Flandez and Giovanni Dales, both 19, of Balugo, Valencia; Jeffrey Patrimonio, 22, of Balugo, Dumaguete City; Marvie Diputado, 21, of Barangay Magatas, Sibulan and the 11 minors whose names are being withheld by the DAILY STAR.

Dales allegedly heads the fraternity.

The parents of the minors said they plan to press charges against the leaders of the fraternity for the physical injuries inflicted on their children.

Meanwhile, two brothers from Valencia were brought to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete after a hacking incident caused by an argument Wednesday last week in Barangay Malaunay in the town.

Police identified the brothers as Martin Olasiman, 38, and Patricio, 46, both married and residing in Sitio Layugan, Malaunay, Valencia.

The brothers were reportedly walking home after having drinks with their friends, when an argument ensued and led to the hacking.

Patricio said Martin hacked him in the body and that prompted him to retaliate.

Martin, who was hit in the neck and chin, ran and hid in a neighbor's house, he added.

Their family brought them to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, police said.*

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