Senate panel cites Aegis Juris head in contempt, orders detention

The Senate public order committee on Wednesday cited Arvin Balag, the supposed head of the Aegis Juris fraternity, in contempt, after repeatedly refusing to answer questions from the members of the panel.

Senator Grace Poe moved to cite Balag in contempt after the latter invoked such right to a question whether he was a member of Aegis Juris. Poe also asked Balag if he was the head of the fraternity.

“Member ka ba?” Poe asked Balag. “O nagmamatigas ka na doon sa sinasabi mong code of silence doon sa text messages?” she said.

Poe then made a motion to cite Balag in contempt, which was seconded by Senator Joel Villanueva.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee, directed the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms to place Balag under detention after the hearing.

Balag is one of the personalities facing charges for murder, robbery, and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law over the death of UST freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.

Castillo, a freshman law student, died after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity based in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law last month.

The autopsy showed Castillo died of "severe blunt traumatic injuries,” the medico-legal team from the Manila Police District (MPD) said. — RSJ, GMA News