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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. This took place after a heated argument between members of the two fraternities the previous day. The incident was investigated by the University of Santo Tomas Security Affairs, who noted that the two fraternities had been "at odds" for some time.
In 2012, following the death of San Beda Law freshman Marvin Reglos in 2012, members of Gamma Delta Epsilon sought to distance themselves from the incident. They voluntarily appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to clear their names and denied any participation in the initiation rites of Lambda Rho Beta, the fraternity allegedly involved in the fatal hazing.
Among those implicated was Christian Adobo, who, together with seventeen others, was charged with murder before the Regional Trial Court of Antipolo City. Accompanied by his fellow Gamma Delta Epsilon fraternity members from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Law, Adobo maintained his innocence. Although he declined to speak to the media, his fraternity brothers asserted that while he had indeed reserved Guillan's Place Resort in Antipolo City, the alleged site of the hazing, the reservation was made not for Lambda Rho Beta but for a Gamma Delta Epsilon meeting. According to their counsel, Galileo Angeles, the resort had been reserved from 10:00 p.m. on February 18 until 7:00 a.m. on February 19 for a planning meeting in preparation for Gamma Delta Epsilon's 64th anniversary celebration.
Gamma Delta Epsilon has a rivalry with Aegis Juris, another law fraternity at the 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. 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. Gamma Delta Epsilon members came to the fight armed with batons and belts. While the Faculty of Civil Law's dean investigated the incident, members of both fraternities were not allowed to attend classes or enter the campus.
