Mourn the death but scorn the ambition of University of Santo Tomas freshman law student Horacio Tomas Castillo III. He was killed in an initiation rite by his Aegis Juris fraternity brothers to be. Clearly in several instances in the past, law students were killed as they undergo membership initiation to join fraternities. Castillo have misjudged the danger of enlisting into one—may he rest in peace.
We can expect more deaths from fraternity hazing especially in the law school category. This is definitely so as we see youths lust to be lawyers with the strong intent to acquire fame and wealth—the fraternity provides an instant vast network within the judiciary needed for a fruitful law practice. This is a sick notion perpetuated in the nation’s law schools. The law aims to promote good and preserve order in human society and not for grandiosity.
In today’s time, already a public knowledge, the San Beda College law based Lex Tallionis Fraternitas has gained political power & whatever bonus that comes with it with their fraternity brother Rodrigo Roa Duterte the president of the Republic of the Philippines. Never in the local mass media coverage has a fraternity so often mentioned.
The fraternity’s power and influence can be extended with Duterte’s presidential power to appoint justices. As Rappler.com puts it, “Thus the President gets to appoint at least 12 more justices in his term. By the time his term ends in 2022, only 3 Supreme Court justices will not be his appointees: Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (retiring in 2030), Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (retiring in 2032), and Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa (retiring in 2030).” Monopoly and dominance is non-existent in this case but the bountiful harvest is expected for years for any well placed fraternity network.
The Philippine justice system is inefficient at least if not out rightly dysfunctional. It does not deliver justice as it should. The Inquirer.net from the recent hearing of the blue ribbon committee on drugs and corruption at the Bureau of Customs has quoted senator Dick Gordon saying, ““It says here, the law is very clear, 72 hours. And it is not a small matter, small quantities of drugs. The biggest, in fact. Therefore, this judge should be brought to the Ombudsman right away,” Gordon said.” This is about the drugs seized and still kept undisposed as far as late 2016. The reason, the judge claims to be sick—a flimsy excuse.
This is an example of a classic modus to delay cases & leave it unresolved to spoil thus benefiting the culprits and depriving the victims. With this modus, lawyers need not mount a convincing argument to win but only the access to this machination will provide the win. Obvious, fraternity networks provide the facility with players getting paid handsomely.
Thus, the benefit of joining a fraternity for a young ambitious law student is worth the risk, that is before one gets killed.
Red Lion Oratory 