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Aegis Juris head cited for contempt, detained at Senate


The head of the Aegis Juris fraternity will be detained at the Senate after he was cited in contempt for initially refusing to answer questions from the members of the Senate public order committee investigating Horacio “Atio” Castillo III’s death.

Balag, the Grand Praefectus of the Aegis Juris fraternity according to the organizational chart earlier released by the Manila Police District (MPD), invoked his right against self-incrimination when he was asked by the senators on Wednesday to confirm if he was the head of his fraternity and whether he was a member.

When he was asked whether he was willing to provide his DNA sample to disprove allegations that he was present during the initiation rites of Castillo, Balag also declined.

Balag then apologized to the committee for not answering questions on his membership of the fraternity, saying it might be used against him.

Later on in the hearing, Senator Joel Villanueva asked who among the fratmen decided to bring Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital, and not at the nearer UST hospital.

Balag told the committee: “First of all, I would like to apologize [over] my earlier statements and [I am] asking if my contempt can be lifted. I will answer the question if I am a member of Aegis Juris, yes, I am a member.”

Balag then said he could not answer if he was the head of Aegis Juris as he was no longer enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas.

He then told Villanueva: “As to that question, I invoke my right against self-incrimination.”

“Then your contempt will remain,” Villanueva said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who warned Balag of being placed under detention at the Pasay City jail, said he should not “irritate” members of the committee.

When the hearing was suspended, Balag asked that he be recognized. “No more, we have already suspended the hearing. We gave you all the chances kanina eh,” Lacson told him.

In an interview, Lacson said Balag will be detained at the Senate.

“May space pa naman dito. Pagka-ano rin, isasama ko na si Faeldon doon (Pasay City jail),” Lacson said in jest, referring to former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon who is also detained at the Senate for refusing to testify on the shabu shipment probe.

Lacson said the right against self-incrimination was “abused” during the hearing.

“Very simple questions answerable by yes or no, hindi ito magje-jeopardize sa kanila in terms of incriminating themselves,” Lacson said.

“They are protecting each other to the point maski ma-incriminate ang iba, ini-invoke pa rin nila right vs self-incrimination. So if they stay that way lahat sila talagang mapapahamak," he added. —NB, GMA News

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