The Sigma Rho Fraternity () is a College of Law-based fraternity in the University of the Philippines Diliman. Having been formally organized in 1938, it is the oldest law-based Greek-letter fraternity in Asia. However, it has also expanded its membership base to include undergraduate students, including those studying for degrees in engineering, business, and sports science. It is one of the three fraternities based in the College of Law, the other two being Alpha Phi Beta and Scintilla Juris.
It is also part of Sigma Rho Philippines, an alliance of independent fraternities that were born of the same tradition, which has around 40,000 resident and alumni members from all over the country.
History
Sigma Rho was founded by Charter Members Pacifico Agcaoili, Constantino Borja, Rodolpho Frayre, Joaquin Gonzales, Tiburcio V. Hilario, George V. McClure (an American Law student who was the first Grand Archon in 1939), Angel Medina, Carlos Ramos, Luciano Salazar (who later assisted Alexander SyCip in creating the law firm Sycip and Salazar), Antonio Moran Sison, Narceo Zambrano (who was the Grand Archon in 1940).
The Charter Adviser was then professor and later Court of Appeals Justice Magno Gatmaitan.
The fundamental law of the fraternity is that "The word of the Grand Archon is Law". Its hierarchy of loyalty is the following: first is God, second is country, third is family, fourth is the University of the Philippines, fifth is the University of the Philippines College of Law, and sixth is Sigma Rho. Meanwhile, its vows are sacrifice, loyalty, obedience, and service.
Symbols
The two letters of the Greek alphabet are its emblems for the stature of its members as "Seekers of the Right". The Greek initials also 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.
Members of the fraternity are called "Comrades", while the fraternity’s presiding officer is called "Grand Archon", which means Chief Magistrate in ancient Greece. The treasurer is referred to as the Custodian of Funds.
Notable members
Judiciary
Antonio T. Carpio - former associate justice
Serafin R. Cuevas - former associate justice
Marcelo Fernan - former chief justice, supreme court and senate president
Jhosep Lopez - associate justice
Presbitero Velasco - former associate justice
Pedro Yap - former chief justice
Law
Francisco Chavez - former solicitor general
Simeon Marcelo - former solicitor general and ombudsman
Salvador Panelo - former chief presidential legal counsel and spokesperson of Rodrigo Duterte
Literature
Stevan Javellana - novelist and author of Without Seeing the Dawn
Politics
Edgardo J. Angara - former senate president
Juan Edgardo M. Angara - senator
Hilario Davide III - vice governor of Cebu
Raul Daza - former representative of the 1st district of Northern Samar
Arthur Defensor Jr. - governor of Iloilo
Arthur Defensor Sr. - former governor of Iloilo
Franklin M. Drilon - senator and former senate president
Juan Ponce Enrile - former senate president
Oscar Gozos - former representative of the 4th district of Batangas
Rafael M. Salas - former executive secretary
Jovito Salonga - former senate president, resigned from the fraternity in 2007
Victor Sumulong - former representative of the 2nd district of Antipolo
Luis Villafuerte - former governor of Camarines Sur
Sports
Joe Lipa - former coach of the Philippines men's national basketball team and the University of the Philippines Men's Basketball Team
Incidents
From 1991 to 1994, Sigma Rho was involved in a total of 32 reported violent incidents between fraternities in the UP campus.
In 1994, Sigma Rho member and UP Law student Dennis Venturina died after seven Sigma Rho members were unexpectedly attacked inside the campus by the Scintilla Juris fraternity. While he was brought to the UP Infirmary by bystanders, he eventually died due to severe head injuries inflicted by lead pipes and baseball bats. In 2019, the five UP students convicted for the murder were released from prison.