Divina on being part of BI watchlist: Unfortunate but not unexpected

Nilo Divina —JOAN BONDOC

Unfortunate but not unexpected.

This was how University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo T. Divina described the order of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include him in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) lookout bulletin over his supposed liability in the death of law student Horacio Tomas Castillo III.

“It is an unfortunate but not entirely unexpected development. It is clear that I have no liability because I have no prior actual knowledge of the alleged hazing incident and I am not a party to any cover-up,” Divina said in a statement.

In an order released Thursday, the DOJ directed the BI to include in the lookout bulletin Divina and 50 other individuals allegedly involved and liable in the fatal hazing of Castillo, a neophyte of Aegis Juris fraternity.

Most of those included in the list are lawyers and members of the fraternity.

READ: DOJ wants Divina, 50 others in ‘Atio’ hazing case added on BI watchlist

Divina, however, vowed to comply with the DOJ order and remained confident that his name would soon be cleared.

“Nevertheless, I will comply with whatever order the DOJ may issue. In fact, I just came from two overseas business trips. In both cases, I had to cut short my trip and adjust my schedule to be able to attend to Senate Committee and DOJ hearings,” Divina said.

“I am committed to fulfill my duties that require my presence. At the same time, I will not hesitate to challenge any act which transgresses my right. I remain confident that in time my name will be cleared and I will be vindicated,” he added.

Divina was slapped with murder, obstruction of justice, perjury, and violation of anti-hazing law complaints before the DOJ. /je