Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina has issued a blanket denial amid allegations he gave illegal commissions to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista, who is accused of accumulating nearly P1 billion in unexplained wealth.
In a statement posted on the UST Civil Law Student Council’s Facebook page on Aug. 10, Divina vowed to go to court to clear his name, and assured Thomasians he had not been part of any illegal activity.
“I assure you that I have not been involved in any illegal or unethical activity and all my dealings are fair and above-board,” Divina said.
The Civil Law dean said he would take legal action to defend himself and his law firm, DivinaLaw.
He urged students to focus on studying law and not to “be troubled with exaggerated news.”
Divina also thanked faculty members for their support, from which he said he would “draw the waters of inspiration to defend my name and reputation.”
“I believe that every challenging situation is an opportunity to showcase our character and I have no doubt that I will weather this storm,” he added.
Divina earlier told the Varsitarian that his law firm did not give illegal commissions to Bautista, who is accused by his estranged wife Patricia Paz Bautista of hiding nearly P1 billion in assets.
“None [of the accusations] are true. [I’m] sure I did not do anything wrong [and that] I did not do anything unethical,” Divina told the Varsitarian in a phone interview last Aug. 7.
Patricia claimed in her affidavit that she had discovered several checks and commission sheets issued by Divina’s law firm in Makati City to the Comelec chairman and his relatives. SW.Lipana
