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Aquila Legis

{{Short description|Philippine organization}}

{{Infobox Fraternity

| name = Aquila Legis

| letters = {{lang|grc|Α}}LF

| crest = AquilaLegisFrat2.jpg

| image_size = 150px

| founded = {{start date and age|1949}}

| birthplace = Ateneo Law School

| affiliation = Independent

| motto = {{lang|la|Fidelitas ex Lege}}

| colors = {{color box|#333399}} Blue

| symbol = Eagle

| status = Active

| type = Professional-PH

| emphasis = Law

| scope = Local

| chapters = 1

| lifetime = 2,000+

| address = Ateneo de Manila University School of Law,

| city = Makati City

| postal code = 1108,

| country = Philippines

| website = {{url|http://www.aquilalegis.org/}}

}}

The Aquila Legis Fraternity ({{lang|grc|Α}}LF) is a non-sanctioned Philippine fraternity that originated in Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in the Philippines. As of 2024, it has inducted more than 2,000 members.

History

Aquila Legis Fraternity was founded as {{Lang|la|Fraternitas Aquilae Legis}} in 1949 by Joaquin Lorenzo E. Misa, the first bossman or most honorable praeses at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. He was joined by 21 second and third-year students of the School of Law, who addressed their seniors in meetings stating, "Boss, with all due respect."{{Cite web|last=Panaligan|first=Rey|title=AdeMU’s Aquila Legis Fraternity celebrates 75th anniversary June 29|url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/25/ade-mu-s-aquila-legis-fraternity-celebrates-75th-anniversary-june-29|date=2024-06-26}}{{Cite web|title=With Fond Memories|url=https://www.aquilalegis.org/obituary-precy-perlas-56}}{{Cite web |last=Jimenez |first=Fidel |date=5 February 2008 |title=Aquila Legis brods behind Nograles' coup? |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/79399/Aquila-Legis-brods-behind-Nograles-coup |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=GMA News Online}} Aquila Legis was created as a professional fraternity for Catholic law students and lawyers from the private Catholic university.

As of 2024, the fraternity has inducted over 2,000 members.

Symbols

The fraternity's Latin name, Aquila Legis, translates as "eagle of the law," or "legal eagle." Its motto is {{lang|la|Fidelitas ex Lege}}.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} The fraternity's symbol is the eagle.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} Its color is blue.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Notable members

Controversies

= Hazing death =

On February 8, 9, and 10, 1991, Aquila Legis senior members conducted initiation rites for neophytes interested in joining the fraternity's ranks. The codename of the rites included the picnic or nic, golf, and other aliases to maintain secrecy; such hazing on one of the neophytes, Leonardo "Lenny" Villa, led to his death from serious physical injuries at the Chinese General Hospital on February 10, 1991.{{Cite web |last=Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court Manila |date=May 27, 1993 |title=G.R. No. 99327 |url=http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1993/may1993/gr_99327_1993.html |access-date=April 25, 2025 |website=The LAWPhil Project}}

In the wake of Villa's death, charges were filed against 26 members of the fraternity. The Regional Trial Court of Caloocan found the defendants guilty of the crime charged.{{cite web |last=Mallari Jr. |first=Delfin |date=September 2, 2007 |title=Déjà vu for Lenny Villa's |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20070902-86086/D%E9j%E0_vu_for_Lenny_Villa%92s_ma |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221205103/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20070902-86086/D%E9j%E0_vu_for_Lenny_Villa%92s_ma |archive-date=2013-02-21 |accessdate=2010-09-08 |website=INQUIRER.net}} The Court of Appeals however, overturned the findings of the trial court and acquitted 19 of the 26 defendants. The conviction of two lower ranked Aquila Legis fraternity members, Fidelito Dizon, and Artemio Villareal, was upheld, while the sentences for four other fraternity members were downgraded from homicide to slight physical injuries.{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2017 |title=Fratmen in Lenny Villa hazing get slap on wrist |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/10/08/1746898/fratmen-lenny-villa-hazing-get-slap-wrist |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Philstar.com}} The Supreme Court later elevated the charges for the four to reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, downgrading Dizon's charges to the same. Villareal died in 2011 while awaiting appeal.{{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Purple S. |date=20 February 2012 |title=SC punishes 5 frat members for Lenny Villa's death |url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/1658-sc-punishes-5-frat-members-for-lenny-villa-s-death |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=Philippine News}}

As a result of the controversy surrounding the death of Lenny Villa, Republic Act No. 8049 (more popularly known as the "Anti-Hazing Law") was passed into law in 1995. Up to today, the Lenny Villa case is considered the first case that depicted the fraternity violence that occurs during initiation rites.{{cite web |date=June 7, 1995 |title=Republic Act No. 8049 |url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_09/RA08049.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008181032/http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_09/RA08049.pdf |archivedate=2012-10-08 |accessdate=2012-11-30 |website=Republic of the Philippines Cogress of the Philippines}}

The controversy in the Villa Hazing continued years after, when it was reported that the cases against those charged for Villa's death were intentionally delayed through the interference and influence of several high-ranking Aquila Legis members such as former Solicitor General Raul Goco and former Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio.{{cite web |last=Benigno |first=Teodoro C. |date=January 14, 2002 |title=CA and Aquila Legis/ GMA ratings down |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2002/01/14/147000/ca-and-aquila-legis-gma-ratings-down |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=The Philippine STAR}}

Impeachment of Renato Corona

During the impeachment of Renato Corona, former Supreme Court Chief Justice, Aquila Legis members holding key positions in the House of Representatives were said to be behind the fast-tracking of the hearing of the impeachment complaint against the former Chief Justice, to shelve the impeachment complaint which was likewise concurrently pending against then Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo who is an Aquilan himself, all to protect their fellow Aquilan.{{cite web |last=Porcalla |first=Delon |date=January 30, 2012 |title=Law frats also in spotlight at CJ trial |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/01/30/772271/law-frats-also-spotlight-cj-trial |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=The Philippine STAR}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.aquilalegis.org/|Aquila Legis Fraternity Website}}

Category:Legal fraternities and sororities in the Philippines

Category:Student organizations established in 1949

Category:1949 establishments in the Philippines