Divina files 3rd libel case against Castillo lawyer over remarks in ‘V’ story

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CIVIL Law Dean Nilo Divina has filed a third libel complaint against Lorna Kapunan, the family lawyer of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III, for her remarks in a story published by the Varsitarian last Oct. 8.

Divina charged Kapunan over her claim that he was liable for the death of Castillo, as dean of Civil Law.

READ: Castillo lawyer wants Divina, other UST officials charged over frat hazing

“Under the law, the University, the head of the college, and the head of the organization are liable. So all of them must be investigated,” Kapunan told the Varsitarian at the sidelines of the preliminary investigation on Castillo’s death at the Department of Justice last Oct. 4.

Kapunan was also charged with libel for claiming that Divina had knowledge of the hazing activity but failed to prevent it.

”[I] have no personal agenda. I do not know Dean Divina personally. We are just following the law. If he really is a dean, he should know the law. [T]he] dean should come forward and not be an obstructionist to justice [because] no one is above the law,” the Varsitarian quoted Kapunan as saying.

Sought for comment, Kapunan told the Varsitarian she had yet to see the complaint filed against her by Divina.

Divina sued Kapunan for two counts of libel on Monday, for linking him to the death of Castillo as well as the corruption allegations involving the chairman of the Commission on Elections, Juan Andres Bautista.

The Anti-Hazing Law of 1995 states that school officials or faculty members who have knowledge of a hazing activity but fail to take any action to prevent it from occurring shall be punished as accomplices.

The 22-year-old Castillo died on Sept. 18 after going through the hazing rites of Aegis Juris, a UST law fraternity, which counts Divina as one of its prominent alumni.

READ: Civil Law dean sues Castillo family lawyer for libel

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