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Frat war may not have caused Bar exam violence — NBI


The National Bureau of Investigation said the perpetrators in Sunday's post-Bar examinations violence may not be law school fraternity members. At a news briefing on Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the NBI held a case conference earlier in the day and the motives behind the grenade explosion outside the De La Salle University campus in Manila remain undetermined. "There is no clear angle yet, even the fraternity war. There were five young men around the area who did not look like law students. At this point, they're (NBI) unwilling to state clearly that it's a fraternity war," said De Lima. Conflicts among law school fraternities were widely believed to have caused Sunday's violence, which involved a grenade explosion and the throwing of beer bottles. About 47 people were injured. San Sebastian College law student Raissa Laurel, who was near the grenade when it went off, had to have her legs amputated. NBI findings earlier showed the violence stemmed from a conflict between fraternities whose members "got drunk, became unruly, and went overboard." The NBI, the Manila Police District are spearheading the inquiries. The Supreme Court has also formed a committee headed by Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. to conduct a parallel probe, which will also harmonize government investigators' findings. On Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III told the suspects to surface and face the bar of justice. "To those of you who are guilty: The full resources of the state are being unleashed against you. Surrender... Do not add to the troubles you are now facing. Otherwise, have no doubt that you will be caught. You will not escape the consequences of your actions," said the President, who visited Laurel at the Philippine General Hospital that day. –VVP, GMANews.TV

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