DOJ indicts Kapunan for unjust vexation

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted lawyer Lorna Kapunan for unjust vexation over her derogatory statements against University of Santo Tomas law dean Nilo Divina during the DOJ investigation of the fatal hazing of law student Horatio “Atio” Castillo III.

But the the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors dismissed Divina’s more serious complaint of cyberlibel against Kapunan, counsel for the Castillo family.

Feeling vindicated

In a statement, Divina said he felt vindicated since the prosecutors had also cleared him of criminal charges for Castillo’s death at the hands of his fraternity brothers in Aegis Juris, of which Divina is a member.

Kapunan said she was confident that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra would reverse the decision.

“Attorney Kapunan has not only committed a crime by spreading falsehoods against me but has also seriously violated the code of professional responsibility of lawyers,” Divina said.

In its decision, the DOJ ruled that Kapunan’s statements calling Divina “an obstructionist to justice” and “appear[ing] to be above the law” had caused “annoyance, irritation, vexation and torment” to the law dean.

Unjust vexation is punishable by imprisonment of one to 30 days and a fine of P5 up to P200. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan