THE LETTER of Rene Saguisag seems to lay the whole matter of fraternity deaths and violence at the door of the University of the Philippines and its alumni. (Inquirer, 10/1/07)

It is gratifying to note however that a well-known UP alumnus, Juan Ponce Enrile, has condemned the violence. So has another, the elder statesman Jovito Salonga. Edgardo Angara, Franklin Drilon, Justice Antonio Carpio, Representatives Art Defensor, Sim Datumanong and Luis Villafuerte need not follow suit.

Violence of the fraternity kind is also prevalent in other universities and so-called institutions of higher learning. The alumni of Saguisag's alma mater have their own black marks and rogues although not of the fraternity kind. The decade of the '60s saw gang-type violence prevalent in exclusive schools like La Salle, Letran and San Beda.

The best-known rogue is a convict from another Diliman-based institution, whose brand of violence has more to do with pillage and plunder, the worst kind of violence because it is violence directed at millions; his unconvicted predecessor was a product of another Diliman school.

Well, of course, UP being what it is, the blame is well accepted. Another UP alumna sits in glory. Sic transit gloria mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world) --FRED VALERO, via e-mail