IN SEARCH of justice for the death of Civil Law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio Castillo III, the regent of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) called on the suspects in the case to take responsibility for their actions.
“Harapin natin kung anuman ang ating ginawa at nagawa. I believe walang Tomasinong duwag,” AB Regent Rev. Fr. Rodel Aligan said during the Mass for justice held at the UST Central Seminary Chapel on Friday.
“Competence [p]resupposes respect for persons, friends, or enemies as well,” he added. “I believe no Thomasian should be an enemy upon other Thomasian. A Thomasian should do no harm to another Thomasian.”
The regent questioned how members of the Thomasian community were able to commit a crime against their fellow Thomasian. “If all of us have tried to be committed, competent, and compassionate, then why did we allow this thing to happen to a fellow Thomasian? Why did we allow this thing to happen to Horacio?”
The search for justice in Castillo’s death is a responsibility of the entire Thomasian community and not just the victim’s family, Aligan said.
“Remember, we are one Thomasian community. […] A pain of a part is felt by all. The loss of a part will be missed by the whole. And even the sin of a Thomasian or Thomasians will become a responsibility for all of us,” he said.
Castillo was found dead along the streets of Balut, Tondo on Sept. 18 after attending the “welcoming rites” of the law school-based fraternity, Aegis Juris Fraternity. He suffered severe hematoma and heart attack from the incident.
John Paul Solano, who brought Castillo to Chinese General Hospital, surrendered to the office of Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday while one of the main suspects Ralph Trangia has fled the country.
In a speech, Civil Law Student Council Vice President-Internal Jasmin Labaco reiterated that they will not stop their efforts until justice is served to Castillo’s death.
“Hindi kami tumitigil; […] Hindi kami titigil at ‘di kami papayag na mawala sa lahat ito. Tutulong kami sa lahat ng imbestigasyon na nangyayari,” Labaco said.
She urged all universities to put an end to the system of hazing, adding that Castillo’s death should be the last death due to hazing.
“Hindi natin kailangan ng dahas para lang matanggap ka sa isang kasamahan, dahil nga naniniwala kami na sa isang kapatiran, kung mahal mo yung kapatid mo, tatanggapin mo siya.”
The Mass for justice and eternal repose of the soul of Castillo was organized by the Political Science Forum, AB Pax Romana and the Faculty of Civil Law Student Council. F
