Aguirre admits ranking DOJ officials are his frat brods

Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II admitted on Thursday that four of his undersecretaries at the Department of Justice (DOJ) are his fraternity brothers with San Beda College fraternity Lex Talionis.

Aguirre confirmed this during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the Bureau of Immigration (BI) bribery scandal involving former deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, both of whom are also Aguirre's frat brothers.

Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate panel, said it appears that Lex Talionis is "very favored" by Aguirre.

Aguirre then confirmed that Undersecretaries Antonio Kho Jr., Erickson Balmes, Raymund Mecate, and Reynante Orceo are all his fraternity brothers.

Undersecretary Deo Marco, meanwhile, is the son of a fraternity brother, said Aguirre.

“Perhaps, trust is a very important factor. But do you agree that these could lead in serious consequences, for example, in the case of these two people appointed as commissioners at the Bureau of Immgiration and now has given a humongous blackeye?” Gordon asked.

Aguirre answered: “If not handled very well, you might be right.”

Gordon said the information could have been “devastating” had it been presented during the confirmation hearing of Aguirre.

Aguirre hurdled the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday after two hearings in the CA committee on judicial and bar council.

Aguirre, meanwhile, also said that their fraternity committee is now undertaking a proceeding on the possible expulsion of both Argosino and Robles. —KBK, GMA News