Aquila Legis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aquila Legis is a fraternity of the Ateneo de Manila College of Law, Makati City, Philippines.
[edit] History
21 junior and senior students of the Ateneo de Manila Law School have organized and formed in 1949 the first fraternity in the Philippines with a Latin name. It's English translation is "Eagle of the Law" but uses more often the phrase "Legal Eagle". It has more than 1500 members, 90% of whom are members of the Philippine Bar and include Cabinet Secretaries, Congressmen, Justices, and Ambassadors.[1] [2] Through the years, it has produced over 40 lawyers who reached the Top Ten of the Bar Examinations, four of whom placed number 1. [3]
Some of the prominent members of Aquila Legis include:
Judiciary
Supreme Court Justice Leo Medialdea (Retired), Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio, Court of Appeals Justice Marian Del Castillo, Court of Appeals Justice Hector Hofilena (retired), Court of Appeals Justice Ricky Rosario, Court of Appeals Justice Ramon Garcia, and Court of Appeals Justice Roberto Barrios.
Executive
Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Nonoy Andaya, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio "Serge" Apostol, Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Gabriel Singson, Former Press Secretary Atty. Ricardo "Dong" Puno, Former Chief of the Presidential Legislative Liason Office Jaime Policarpio, Napocor Chairman Cyril Del Callar, Quezon Governor Wilfredo Enverga, Department of Finance Undersecretary Gaudencio Mendoza, Mandaluyong Mayor Neptali Gonzales Jr., Former Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, La Union Governor Victor F. Ortega, Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Former NLRC Commissioner Bert Quimpo, Ambassador Eloy Bello, Ambasssador Victor Garcia III, Former Ambassador to the United States Raul C. Rabe, and Former League of Cities President Francis Tolentino.
Legislature
Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles, Congressman Tony Roman, Congressman Raul Del Mar, Congressman Jun Abaya, Congressman Florencio Noel, and Former Congressman Didagen Dilangalen.
Notes
Aquila Legis made the headlines in 1993 when it was involved with the death of Lenny Villa, a neophyte who died because of the hazing in the initiation rites. The officers and members responsible were tried and convicted by the courts for homicide through reckless imprudence. They were later denied admission in the Ateneo Law School which triggered the controversy in the Ateneo de Manila University vs. Capulong (G.R. No. 99327, May 27, 1993) case.
"As a requisite to membership, the Aquila Legis, a fraternity organized in the Ateneo Law School, held its initiation rites on February 8, 9 and 10, 1991, for students interested in joining its ranks. As a result of such initiation rites, Leonardo "Lennie" H. Villa, a first year student of petitioner university, died of serious physical injuries at Chinese General Hospital on February 10, 1991. He was not the lone victim, though, for another freshman by the name of Bienvenido Marquez was also hospitalized at the Capitol Medical Center for acute renal failure occasioned by the serious physical injuries inflicted upon him on the same occasion." Ateneo de Manila vs. Ignacio Capulong, G.R. No. 99327 May 27, 1993
