VICE MAYOR Alvin Fernandez clarified over the weekend that the Sangguniang Panlungsod cannot enact an ordinance that will ban fraternities in the city.

“The people’s right to form lawful associations or societies is clearly enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution,” Fernandez said.

The vice mayor was reacting to criticisms that the city council had continued to ignore a request of a university official for the city council to immediately pass the ordinance.

Fernandez said that Dominador “Boy” Rayos, director for student affairs of the University of Pangasinan , went to the SP during one of its regular sessions to ask for the enactment of an ordinance that woud expel or ban students misbehaving in the city’s colleges and universities.

“Right then and there, we specifically told Mr. Rayos that we cannot do the ordinance. The SP has no business making university policies,” Fernandez said.

The vice mayor said it is the responsibility of the schools to adopt and enforce stricter policies to ensure the safety of their students. “No ID, no entry must be enforced by the security guards in schools. Any unwanted element in school must not be allowed to enter the campus,” he said.

He added that students involved in criminal activities within the campus can be arrested by the campus security and turned over to the PNP.

He said that as its measure of concern, the city council had immediately requested Dagupan City Police chief, Supt. Edgar Basbas, to intensify police beat patrol in the city especially in areas near universities and colleges.

Fernandez also suggested that university officials should instead list down the productive activities of these fraternities as against the unproductive ones and from there, determine who should be recognized in the campus.

“Is it fair to ban all fraternities for the offense of one fraternity that the school allow and tolerate?” the vice mayor asked rhetorically.