JEDDAH, 26 October — Consul Gary Domingo yesterday called on estranged alumni of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) in Riyadh to settle for a “compromise,” even as he denied being instrumental in the bitter breakup of the existing group called APORAA.

“... let us just live and let live, side by side and in harmony. Let the individual APO member join the chapter which is more accessible to him,” Domingo said in a letter addressing the issues raised against him.

The APORAA, which stands for APO Riyadh Alumni Association, had complained that Domingo, who is the first secretary at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, helped form a new group whose existence could destabilize the existing one.

The new group in question is called APOCRUC, or Central Region Unified Chapter, whose new president is Virgilio “Boggs” Bolor, an alleged sidekick of Domingo.

In his letter, Domingo said that as a member of the foreign service, he has to “remain neutral with regard to any conflict which may arise between and among OFWs and groups, and take a pro-active role in mediating conflicts if and when both parties agree to submit their dispute to the foreign service post...”

He said they also intervene only if “the dispute is of such a serious nature that it threatens to disrupt the peace and harmony of the community and/or relations with the host country.” Domingo said the embassy could not intervene in the question at hand because only APORAA has called for mediation. Besides, the dispute is “mainly a matter internal to APO” and does not threaten overall peace and harmony of the OFW community or of RP-KSA relations.

Domingo said his only involvement in the APOCRUC is issuing a press release announcing the induction ceremony of APOCRUC, which was supposed to be held last night.

He said he will do the same for any “duly-registered OFW organization” who asks for help. Domingo went on to note that while the newer group is registered with the embassy, APORAA is not.

He also raised the following points:

• Despite APORAA’s request to disallow APOCRUC’s registration, the embassy “will register virtually any OFW organization provided it does not violate any Philippine and local norms, practices and laws, and that it submits its constitution, by-laws and membership roster.”

• He says he finds “no prima facie legal defect” as to the legality of APOCRUC. He said it is a policy of APO regarding the formation of new alumni chapters to allow the chapter to form first before its existence can be challenged. He said learned about these general policies when he visited the organization’s national headquarters in Manila.

• APOCRUC is neither calling for APORAA’s abolition, not is it forcing members to join or switch chapters. He said he was asked by APO national headquarters to advise APORAA to ensure that its chapter dues and other requirements are kept up to date or face suspension or dissolution.

• APOCRUC is for the Central Region of the Kingdom, not just in Riyadh, which is APORAA’s stated territory. If APORAA is consistent, it should also question the formation of other groups such as APO Ranao, and why there are two APO chapters in the Eastern Region — Dhahran and Jubail.

Domingo chided APORAA officials for not taking the time to speak with him, but called on them nonetheless to meet with the APOCRUC leaders to reconcile.

APORAA is expected to send its response today.