Gamma Delta Epsilon
{{Short description|Philippine legal fraternity}}
{{Infobox fraternity
| name = Gamma Delta Epsilon
| letters = ΓΔΕ
| crest = Gamma_Delta_Epsilon_seal.jpg
| founded = {{start date and years ago|1948|2}}
| birthplace = University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
| motto = Fiat Justitia Ruat Cælum
Let justice be done, though the heavens fall
| chapters = 1
| lifetime = 1,000+
| city = Manila
| country = Philippines
| status = Active
| type = Professional-PH
| affiliation = Independent
| emphasis = Law
| scope = Local
| colors = {{color box|#105CAA}} Blue and {{color box|#FE0E0F}} Red
}}
The Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity (ΓΔΕ) is a Philippines professional law fraternity. It was founded in 1948 at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Its members include four justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, two who became the Chief Justice of the Philippines. In 2018, the university suspended all fraternities and sororities after the hazing death of a member of Aegis Juris fraternity. However, Gamma Delta Epsilon continues to operate sub rosa.
History
Gamma Delta Epsilon was established at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in February 1948 as a society for law students and lawyers.{{Cite web |last=Dioniso |first=Lauren Gabrielle |title=Dapat bang tanggalin ang fraternities at sororities sa isang unibersidad |trans-title=Should fraternities and sororities be abolished in a university? |url=https://pdfslide.tips/documents/dapat-bang-tanggalin-ang-fraternities-at-sororities-sa-isang-unibersidad.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911145732/https://pdfslide.tips/documents/dapat-bang-tanggalin-ang-fraternities-at-sororities-sa-isang-unibersidad.html |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |access-date=March 13, 2025 |website=PDF Slide |publisher=University of Santo TomasFaculty of Arts and Letters |language=Spanish}} The fraternity's founding members were Gregorio Bilog, Jesus Borromeo, Jaime Claparols, Higino Francisco, Miguel Halili Jr., Maximo Maceren, Andres Narvasa, Pablo Tangco, Antonio Venecia, Geronimo O. Veneracion, and Onofre Villaluz.Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence. Manila: Gamma Delta Epsilon. 2018.
The fraternity participated in charitable fundraising events, including an annual fundraiser that benefits the Bar Exam operations and examinees and other activities to support local communities.{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-10-22 |title=RETRIBUTION: Gamma Delta Epsilon Kick-Off Party 2015 Bar Exams |url=https://www.wheninmanila.com/retribution-gamma-delta-epsilon-kick-off-party-2015-bar-exams/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=When In Manila |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2000-04-15 |title=The Year That Was: Phi Kappa Mu In 2013 |url=https://www.phikappamu.com/web5/the-year-that-was-phi-kappa-mu-in-2013/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Phi Kappa Mu |language=en-US}} Its sister organization was the Astrea Law Sorority which was founded in 1936.
As of 2018, the fraternity had initiated more than 1,000 active members. In 2018, the university suspended all fraternities and sororities after the hazing death of a member of Aegis Juris fraternity.{{Cite web |last=Enerio |first=Dane Angelo M. |date=2018-05-23 |title=UST suspends frats, sororities after hazing death last year |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2018/05/23/160127/ust-suspends-frats-sororities-after-hazing-death-last-year/#:~:text=THE%20UNIVERSITY%20of%20Santo%20Tomas,Affairs%20(OSA)%20Director%20Ma. |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=BusinessWorld Online |language=en-US}}In 2024, ten members of Aegis Juris were convicted of the 2018 hazing death. However, Gamma Delta Epsilon continues to operate sub rosa. It celebrated its 75th Diamond Anniversary and inducted new members on November 11, 2023 at Club Filipino.{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2023 |title=UST Law Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity |url=https://www.facebook.com/USTGDEFraternity/posts/pfbid0vdJEti4ZMNwvH17Ls2VttcEsvxcY5YcfCezYphawq3NexqSqYG8bpxcYoztF9mCGl?__cft__[0]=AZWTtPwIR-qhqf-zJ9QRkKGg9iXfgjttBxs8pL7hO9D7BfpHkndT-RIpcJkiwtpwC8eROQ6fsy4AyXWltMf6rCsD4BDY7988-JvMG7whvPdjF95Pwf3v6ZWktWOighNFBNMZIJyBOM2P_42O42wZCQLpdZ_1GIM1UoqdzRFz5ZkNzoR6qHWtmIFqT1L02JyTxz8&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |access-date=April 5, 2025 |website=Facebook}}
Symbols
Gamma Delta Epsilon's motto is Fiat Justitia Ruat Cælum or "Let justice be done, though the heavens fall". The fraternity's colors are blue and red.Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 60th Anniversary. Manila: Gamma Delta Epsilon. 2008.
Notable members
Gamma Delta Epsilon members include justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Court of Appeals of the Philippines, Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals; lower court judges; academicians and law school deans; prosecutors and lawyers; and public servants.{{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 60th Anniversary |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2008 |location=Manila |pages=5}}{{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |pages=2–3}} Following are some of its notable members:
- Arturo Buena – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines{{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |page=5}}{{Cite web |last=Lagrimas |first=Nicole-Anne C. |date=2020-02-13 |title=Retired SC justice who upheld VFA in 2000 passes away at 87 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/725930/retired-sc-justice-who-upheld-vfa-in-2000-passes-away-at-87/story/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}
- Caesar A. Casanova – Associate Justice of the Court of Tax Appeals{{Cite web |title=Associate Justice Caesar A. Casanova |url=https://cta.judiciary.gov.ph/j_cac |access-date=March 13, 2025 |website=Philippines Court of Tax Appeals}}
- Onofre A. Villaluz – Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the Philippines{{Cite web |last=Kapunan |first=Santiago M. |date=2025-04-06|title=A.M. No. RTJ-98-1402 |url=https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/35785 |access-date=2025-04-06|website=Supreme Court E-Library |language=en}}
- Amado Dimayuga – Dean Emeritus of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Former member of the Judicial and Bar Council and Commission on Higher Education Technical Panel for Legal Education{{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |page=7}}{{Cite web |last=Calica |first=Aurea |date=November 28, 2010 |title=Ex-justice secretary named JBC member |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2010/11/28/633855/ex-justice-secretary-named-jbc-member |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Philippine Star}}{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Tomas U. |date=April 12, 2009 |title=Dimayuga named dean emeritus |url=http://varsitarian.net/news/20090412/dimayuga_named_dean_emeritus |access-date=March 13, 2025 |website=The Varsitarian}}
- Maximo Maceren – Former Commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government{{Cite web |last=Porcalla |first=Delon |date=2003-06-28|title=4 ex-PCGG execs, 2 others indicted for sale of Danding’s leased jet |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2003/06/28/211674/4-ex-pcgg-execs-2-others-indicted-sale-danding146s-leased-jet |access-date=2025-04-06|website=Philippine Star |language=en}}
- Francisco Villa – Former Acting Ombudsman and Overall Deputy Ombudsman of the Ombudsman of the Philippines {{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |page=9}}{{Cite web |last=Palabrica|first=Raul J. |date=November 28, 2016 |title=Heavy price for honesty |url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/99578/heavy-price-honesty |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Inquirer}}
- Jose Feria – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law{{Cite book |title=UST Law Review |publisher=University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Review |year=2019 |location=Manila |page=25}}
- Joel Sarsiban Garcia – 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard{{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |page=8}}
- Oscar C. Herrera Jr. – Associate Justice of Sandiganbayan{{Cite web |title=Roll of Sandiganbayan Justices |url=https://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/roll-of-sandiganbayan-justices/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Welcome to The Sandiganbayan |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mendiola |first=Trina Mae R. |title=Oscar Herrera, Jr.: The justice made in Arts and Letters |url=http://www.theflame.pcriot.com/issue1/herrera.html |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Flame}}
- Ronald Moreno – Associate Justice of Sandiganbayan
- Andres Narvasa – 19th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law{{Cite book |title=UST Law Review |publisher=University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Review |year=2019 |location=Manila |page=22}}
- Diosdado Peralta – 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
- Oscar B. Pimentel – Judge of the Makati Regional Trial Court and criminal law professor at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law {{Cite book |title=Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity 70th Years of Defining Greatness, Dignity & Excellence |publisher=Gamma Delta Epsilon |year=2018 |location=Manila |page=9}}{{Cite web |last=Orozco |first=Mikhail S. |date=2024-02-07 |title=Thomasian judge Oscar Pimentel dies at 83 |url=https://varsitarian.net/news/20240207/thomasian-judge-oscar-pimentel-dies-at-83 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Varsitarian |language=en-US}}
Controversies and member misconduct
On August 6, 2008, a member of the Suprema Lex Fraternity was attacked by members of Gamma Delta Epsilon on the University of Santo Tomas campus.{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Tomas U. |date=2008-11-16 |title=Dalawang frat nagsagupaan |url=https://varsitarian.net/news/20081116/dalawang_frat_nagsagupaan |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Varsitarian |language=Spanish}} This took place after a heated argument between members of the two fraternities the previous day. The incident was investigated by University of Santo Tomas Security Affairs who noted that the two fraternities had been "at odds" for some time.
Gamma Delta Epsilon has a rivalry with Aegis Juris, another law fraternity at University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. In October 2014, the university temporarily suspended both fraternities as a precautionary measure after two non-physical "standoffs" between members.{{Cite web |last=Cudal |first=Dayanara T. |last2=Merez |first2=Arianne F. |date=2014-10-14 |title=Members of 2 law frats suspended |url=https://varsitarian.net/news/20141014/members_of_2_law_frats_suspended |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Varsitarian |language=en-US}} In November 2016, members of the two fraternities had several altercations before a November 13 fight in the lobby of Manila Hotel, resulting in injuries to four members of Gamma Delta Epsilon and the arrest of seven members of Aegis Juris.{{Cite web |last=Galupo |first=Rey |date=November 14, 2016 |title=Bar exam frat brawl: 4 hurt, 7 nabbed |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/11/14/1642207/bar-exam-frat-brawl-4-hurt-7-nabbed |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Philippine Star}}{{Cite web |last=See |first=Aie Balagtas |date=2016-11-14 |title=4 hurt in scuffle of 20 Fratmen at hotel lobby |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/843974/4-hurt-in-scuffle-of-20-fratmen-at-hotel-lobby |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} Gamma Delta Epsilon members came to the fight armed with batons and belts. While Faculty of Civil Law's dean investigated the incident, members of both fraternities were not allowed to attend classes or enter the campus.{{Cite web |last=Mogato |first=Anna |date=2016-11-15 |title=Civil Law starts investigation on frat brawl |url=https://test.tomasinoweb.org/2016/news/civil-law-starts-investigation-on-frat-brawl.tw |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=TomasinoWeb |language=en-US}}