Aegis Juris commits to Anti-Hazing Law, document shows
The Aegis Juris fraternity affirmed its commitment to the Anti- Hazing law and swore not to violate its provisions and ensured that no violence shall be used in its practices, a document showed.
A document titled “Commitment to the Anti-Hazing Law” filed by University of Santo Tomas Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina last Oct. 30 to the Department of Justice (DOJ) showed the affirmation of the fraternity to Republic Act 8049. The document is a part of the annexes of the counter affidavit of Divina.
“The Aegis Juris Fraternity, hereby declares its commitment to the Anti-Hazing Law and swears not to violate its provisions. The Fraternity declares that it will live up to the objective that it has personally set, to ensure that violence shall not be used, not just in the recruitment of its members but in all aspect of its conduct as an organization established in the University of Santo Tomas,” the Aegis Juris said on the document.
The commitment affirmation was signed by Aegis Juris Grand Praefectus Arvin Balag, who was earlier detained after refusing to answer questions about his position in the fraternity during a senate probe on Oct. 18.
Divina’s statement came after the parents of slain law freshman Horacio Castillo III filed a supplemental complaint with the Justice Department on Oct. 9 to include him among those to undergo trial.
Divina is one of the well-known members of Aegis Juris Fraternity, but said he is no longer active after taking a leave of absence when he assumed deanship at the Faculty of Civil Law eight years ago.
He also stated in his counter-affidavit that allegations are not evidence and are not equivalent to proof.
"At the risk of being repetitious, complainants' allegation that I, whether, as Dean or trustee, have actual knowledge of fraternity's alleged hazing rites is not supported by proof. The basic rule is that mere allegation is not evidence and is not equivalent to proof," the counter affidavit read.