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 鈥淎tio鈥� Castillo III.
But the the DOJ鈥檚 panel of prosecutors dismissed Divina鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淎ttorney Kapunan has not only committed a crime by spreading falsehoods against me but has also seriously violated the code of professional responsibility of lawyers,鈥� Divina said.
In its decision, the DOJ ruled that Kapunan鈥檚 statements calling Divina 鈥渁n obstructionist to justice鈥� and 鈥渁ppear[ing] to be above the law鈥� had caused 鈥渁nnoyance, irritation, vexation and torment鈥� to the law dean.
Unjust vexation is punishable by imprisonment of one to 30 days and a fine of P5 up to P200. 鈥擠ona Z. Pazzibugan