IN TWO weeks, the verdict on the seven-year hazing slay case of UST law freshman and Artlets alumnus Horacio “Atio” Castillo III will finally be released.
The Castillo family’s pursuit of justice has been relentless since Atio’s tragic death on Sept. 17, 2017. The case shook both the University and the nation as it exposed the violent realities of fraternity initiation rites.
As we commemorate the seventh anniversary of Atio’s passing, The Flame outlines the timeline of events leading up to the Oct. 1 verdict.
(Editor’s note: Details of the hazing incidents cited in this timeline were lifted from a resolution issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 on the bail petition of the accused in 2019.)
2017
Sept. 16
A CCTV footage showed Atio, a 22-year-old UST freshman law student and Political Science alumnus, walking along Dapitan Street. At about 1:20 p.m., he walked by an orange Uber car, and instead of taking the ride, had his two bags sent to his house in Makati City–a task the driver agreed to do.
Atio sent a text message to his parents informing them that he would attend a welcome party hosted by a group based at the UST Faculty of Civil Law, which turned out to be the initiation rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity.
Sept. 17
The initiation rites began at 2 a.m., with Atio stretching and performing the duck walk, according to Mark Ventura, an Aegis Juris suspect turned state witness. After the duck walk, six members took turns punching Atio’s arms for about 30 minutes before hitting them with a spatula to stop the bleeding. The next part of the rituals required Atio to sing and dance “Baby Shark,” drink raw egg yolk while being told that it was the saliva of different fratmen. He was reportedly directed to crawl and to beg before his masters while a spatula was hitting his fingers.
At 5 a.m., fratmen started striking Atio with three paddles. Atio collapsed on the third blow. The fifth strike reportedly by Aegis Juris head Arvin Balag rendered Atio unconscious.
The fratmen identified as Ventura and Zack Abulencia used two white candles and drip the wax beside Atio’s ankles for three to five minutes in an attempt to resuscitate him, but they failed.
John Paul Solano, a medical technologist who is also a UST law student but has filed a leave of absence, reportedly received two phone calls at about 6:30 a.m. from an Aegis Juris member who asked him to go to the fraternity’s library on Laon Laan Street. The fratman who was identified as Balag informed him that someone collapsed during the initiation rites.
In his previous statements, Solano claimed to have found a body lying on the pavement at around 7:50 a.m., wrapped in a blanket at the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Tondo, Manila. He was later on identified as an Aegis Juris member and would be tagged by the police as the primary suspect in the hazing case.
According to a crime report, the fratmen brought Atio to the Chinese General Hospital at about 9 a.m. instead of the UST Hospital because it is nearer the fraternity’s library. A red Mitsubishi Strada carried Atio’s body to the hospital, which was followed by a black Fortuner and Solano on his motorcycle.
It was later revealed in the hearings that Solano tried to revive Atio through a cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. He then suggested that Atio be brought to the hospital.
Atio was declared dead at 9:21 a.m. at the Chinese General Hospital. Dr. Clarisse Cladera, who was on duty that time, said Atio sustained hematomas on both upper extremities and candle wax dripping on the chest, on the arms and on the left thigh. A police report said Atio’s time of death could not be estimated because his cadaver was already embalmed when they received it.
Sept. 18
Atio’s parents received an anonymous text message at 1:13 a.m. telling them that their son was brought to Chinese General Hospital, but they found out later that the scene of the crime operatives already brought their son’s remains to the Archangel Funeral Home in Sampaloc, Manila. The body bore bruises in both arms, cigarette burns and candle wax drippings all over his body.
UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina issued a memorandum ordering a preventive suspension on all the officers and members of Aegis Juris and prohibiting them from entering the campus and attending classes.
In a statement, UST condemned the hazing activities and launched an official investigation into the hazing rites of Aegis Juris, saying it would “leave no stone unturned” to ensure that the perpetrators would be meted the proper sanctions.
At 6 p.m., a prayer vigil and candle-lighting ceremony was held at the UST Faculty of Civil Law lobby in remembrance of Atio. Members of the Anakbayan UST and League of Filipino Students-UST also staged a protest after the ceremony, demanding justice for the slain law freshman.
Vitaliano Aguirre II, who was justice secretary at that time, ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Atio’s death.
Sept. 19
Former Manila Police District (MPD) chief Gen. Joe Napoleon Coronel said Solano was a “person of interest” or was possibly involved in the hazing incident because of his inconsistent statements.
Sept. 20
The Uber driver booked by Atio on Sept. 16 detailed his last encounter with the law student at the MPD homicide section. He said Atio looked anxious and nervous when he booked the trip and asked to send home only his belongings.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an immigration lookout bulletin order for 16 members believed to be involved in the hazing of Atio. The fratmen tagged were Solano, Balag, Ventura, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Jason Adolfo Robiños, Ralph Trangia, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Carl Matthew Villanueva, Aern Salientes, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro and Jose Miguel Salamat.
Divina lifted the preventive suspension of the Aegis Juris members to allow them to cooperate with authorities investigating Atio’s death.
Coronel said in a televised press conference that the MPD had ordered the search and immediate arrest of Solano, Ralph Trangia and his father Antonio Trangia. The red Strada that brought Atio to the hospital was registered to Antonio.
Sept. 21
The Bureau of Immigration said Trangia flew to Taipei, Taiwan on Sept. 19, a day before the lookout bulletin was issued.
Then Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa says he would ask the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of Trangia.
His passport was not canceled but American authorities were preparing to extradite him, according to Aguirre.
Sept. 22
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines said Trangia did not enter Taiwan but instead flew straight to Chicago, United States.
Meanwhile, Solano was turned over to the office of then-senator Panfilo Lacson. He was taken into custody by the MPD and apologized for lying in his first statement, where he said he had found Atio’s body on the pavement.
Suspect Aeron Salientes arrived at NBI on the same day, claiming he was innocent and was not in Manila when the incident happened.
Four more members of the Aegis Juris were placed on the lookout list, raising the number of frat members that were under investigation to 20. The four suspects are Milfren Alvarado, Daniel Ragos, Ged Villanueva and Dave Felix.
Two witnesses, a member of the fraternity group and a prospective recruit, reached out to DOJ and were offered protection.
Sept. 23
Aguirre urged witnesses to cooperate in the investigation. DOJ also launched “Horacio Hotline” for those who have knowledge about Atio’s death.
Sept. 24
Atio’s parents, Carmina and Horacio Castillo Jr., visited Solano at the MPD in hopes of talking face-to-face with him but Coronel said Solano refused to talk because his lawyers were not around.
Sept. 25
The MPD filed cases of perjury, murder, robbery, obstruction of justice and violation of Republic Act 8049 (RA) or the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995 against Solano.
Sixteen other suspects and some unidentified members of Aegis Juris and its sister organization Regina Legis et Juris Sorority were also charged with murder, robbery, and violation of the anti-hazing law.
The 16 were the ones included in the immigration lookout bulletin order filed by DOJ on Sept. 20.
A separate obstruction of justice was filed against Rosemarie Trangia, Ralph’s mother. Records showed that Rosemarie fled the country with her son.
Solano’s lawyer Paterno Esmaquel Sr., filed a motion to dismiss criminal complaints against his client and claimed that an inquest does not apply to suspects who surrendered but only to warrantless arrests.
During a closed-door executive session led by Lacson, Solano said he was ordered by the Aegis Juris members to lie in his account of how he found Atio.
Sept. 26
The House Subcommittee on Prosecutorial Reforms approved House Bill 3467 which prohibits hazing and regulates other forms of initiation rites in fraternities, sororities and similar organizations.
Sept. 27
Atio was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Sept. 28
Solano was released from MPD’s detention since there was no basis for his continued detention and the criminal charges against him have yet to be resolved, according to the DOJ’s six-page resolution.
However, then-acting prosecutor general Jorge Catalan, Jr. said Solano was still not yet cleared of the criminal charges against him so a preliminary investigation must still be conducted.
MPD investigators found three paddles, several drops of blood and candles inside the Aegis Juris fraternity’s library.
Oct. 4
The DOJ started the preliminary hearing on Atio’s case. The lawyer of the Castillo family, Lorna Kapunan, said her client wanted more names added to the list of suspects, including Divina and other UST officials.
Then president Rodrigo Duterte met with Atio’s parents in Malacañang and assured them that justice would be served.
Oct. 6
Divina filed a libel complaint against Kapunan over a television interview where she supposedly implied “dishonesty and lack of virtue” and “casted doubt” on his reputation.
In the interview, Kapunan claimed Divina had recruited Atio to Aegis Juris and assured his parents that “no physical harm” would be inflicted on their son during the initiation. Kapunan also alleged that Divina knew about Atio’s hazing rites and had “coddled” fraternity members involved in it.
Oct. 9
Atio’s parents accused Divina of murder and violation of the anti-hazing law, saying he was involved in a cover-up to protect his younger fraternity brothers. They said Divina was informed of Atio’s death a day earlier than they did, but the dean chose not to reach out to them.
Oct. 10
Trangia returned to the country after staying in the US for three weeks. According to Aguirre, the DOJ offered Trianga a witness protection program or security provided to an individual who is testifying or willing to testify in a case.
Oct. 13
The blood samples and body fluid obtained from items at the fraternity’s library matched the DNA of Atio’s parents, Philippine National Police Crime Lab DNA Analysis chief inspector Lorna Santos said.
Oct. 17
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs issued subpoenas to 14 suspects linked to the hazing case of Atio.
Oct. 18
During the second Senate hearing on the case, Sen. Grace Poe asked Divina to take a leave of absence, saying his being dean creates a conflict of interest in the investigation. Divina, however, refused to go on leave, saying he “cannot abandon his students.”
Solano’s testimony enumerating six names of fraternity members and one non-fraternity member was released. Four of the fraternity members mentioned, namely Onofre, Hipe, Balag and Ventura, were already facing charges filed by the MPD. The non-fraternity member was Romeo Laboga, the Trangias family’s driver who brought Atio to the hospital.
Balag, the alleged head of Aegis Juris, was cited for contempt by the Senate for refusing to answer questions on whether he was a member of Aegis Juris and the leader of the fraternity.
Oct. 19
Sen. Francis Escudero told a press briefing UST officials did not seem to care about Atio’s death.
He said the University, as a “religious school,” should be the first one to hold the perpetrators behind Atio’s death accountable.
Oct. 20
In a statement, UST denied being indifferent to the death of Atio. Meanwhile, 35 law professors of the University claimed that Divina dealt with the situation with “utmost circumspection.”
Oct. 24
In his counter-affidavit, Solano said Atio may have died not of hazing injuries but due to a pre-existing heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy wherein the heart becomes unable to take in or pump out enough blood to supply the body, citing his knowledge as a licensed medical technologist.
Ventura received a full coverage of the witness protection program from the DOJ. He claimed that 23 people were involved in the initiation rites.
Divina failed to attend the preliminary investigation of the case but was represented by his legal counsel Estrella Elamparo.
Oct. 25
Ventura enumerated the names of Aegis Juris members present during Atio’s hazing hours. Aguirre quoted Ventura as saying that about 10 fratmen punched Atio while others were singing karaoke to drown out the noises.
They were Trangia, Balag, Joriel Macabali, Axel Hipe, Mhin Wei Chan, John Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Hans Rodrigo and Jose Marcelino Bagtang, collectively known as “Aegis 10.”
Oct. 26
The DOJ placed Divina, Faculty of Civil Law Secretary Arthur Capili and 63 other persons on an immigration lookout bulletin. In a statement, Divina said he would follow any order that the DOJ might issue even if he has no “prior knowledge” of the hazing incident.
Former Faculty of Arts and Letters regent Fr. Rodel Aligan urged those behind the death of Atio to admit their wrongdoings, saying “manipulation of the truth can never justify one’s conscience.”
Oct. 27
Former UST rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. called on the suspects to come forward during a mass held 40 days after Atio’s passing. In an interview with reporters, Carmina said her family was determined “more than ever” to find justice for her son.
Solano showed Atio’s death certificate indicating that the “provisional cause of death” was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The certificate was signed by Carmina and a police chief inspector.
Oct. 30
Divina filed a 30-page counter-affidavit to DOJ denying allegations that he violated the anti-hazing law and obstructed justice. He also claimed that “another injustice is being perpetrated” against him.
Balag said in his 12-page counter-affidavit that there was no witness to show the “abuse of superior strength” against Atio.
Nov. 6
Senators grilled Divina and former UST Office for Student Affairs director Socorro Guan Hing for allowing Aegis Juris to operate even if it was not recognized by the University. Senators also accused UST officials of “negligence” for supposedly imposing unclear accreditation guidelines for organizations.
Divina denied meeting Atio prior to the hazing incident. However, a CCTV footage from the Pacific Star Building in Makati City showed that Atio was inside the same building where the Divina Law firm holds office five days before the hazing. Poe said records showed that Atio also texted his mother about being in the law office on the same day the footage was taken.
She also noted that the owner of the Pacific Star is also the owner of the Novotel Hotel where some Aegis Juris members met after Atio’s death.
Nov. 9
MPD released its final medico-legal report, saying Atio died due to severe blunt traumatic injuries as a result of hazing, contrary to the information in his death certificate that his demise was caused by a pre-existing heart problem.
Nov. 16
Members of the Aegis Juris insisted that Atio’s death was not because of hazing. Suspects Solano, Mhin Wei Chan and Axel Munro Hipe’s camps filed affidavits of medical expert witnesses, one of them saying it was “out of this world” that Atio died of hazing.
Dec. 22
The Supreme Court ordered Balag’s release from Senate detention two months after he was cited for contempt during a legislative inquiry.
2018
Jan. 11
The DOJ decided to resume the preliminary investigation on Atio’s death after receiving Ventura’s affidavit. Ventura named the Aegis Juris members who participated in the Atio hazing rituals in the affidavit sent to DOJ on Jan. 3.
Jan. 24
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs called for the disbarment of Divina and other Aegis Juris members over Atio’s hazing death. In a 33-page committee report, the panel recommended the disbarment of Divina and at least 18 other lawyers who might have known about Atio’s death but had failed to notify the authorities about it.
Jan. 25
Divina said he would not resign over the death of Atio, saying there was no basis for him to step down.
“I will never allow the wrongdoings of some and the unfair accusations of a few to get in the way of my fulfilling my job as dean,” he said in a statement.
Feb. 12
The Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 1662 or the act amending the anti-hazing law to strengthen the law on hazing and regulate other forms of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and similar organizations.
Feb. 13
Divina said it was “unfair” for him to be part of the disbarment related to the Aegis Juris’ alleged cover-up of the hazing death, stating he tried to assist the authorities conducting the investigation.
Feb. 18
UST expelled eight unidentified civil law students over their alleged involvement in Atio’s death. The students were found to have violated the Code of Conduct and Discipline by the committee tasked to investigate his death.
March 6
The DOJ filed criminal charges against the so-called “Aegis 10” for their violations of the anti-hazing law. The DOJ did not recommend bail.
However, the charges against Solano were bailable. Meanwhile, charges against Ventura and Capili, who sought to be under the witness protection program, were dropped.
Charges against the Aegis Juris Foundation Inc. trustees were also dropped due to “lack of probable cause.”
March 8
The justice department dismissed the complaint against Divina over Atio’s death because of insufficient evidence. The UST law dean thanked his colleagues and clients for their support.
March 12
Two Aegis Juris fratmen, Salamat and Ramos, filed motions for bail before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC). They restated their claims that a pre-existing cardiac problem caused Atio’s death and that there was insufficient evidence of their guilt to warrant their prosecution.
March 23
The 10 accused Aegis Juris members voluntarily surrendered to the NBI.
March 27
The parents of the surrendered Aegis Juris fratmen appealed to the NBI to keep their children under its custody and not to turn them over to the MPD.
In a letter sent to the NBI, the fratmen’s parents said the police district “cannot be an objective and independent custodian” of their sons because it is one of the complainants in the case.
April 14
The UST Office for Student Affairs (OSA) stopped accrediting new student organizations for the academic year 2018-2019.
May 21
The OSA imposed a suspension on all fraternities, sororities and similar organizations for the same academic year.
May 23
The 10 charged members of Aegis Juris were transferred from NBI to Manila City Jail.
The move came after Manila RTC Branch 20 Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali rejected the accused’s urgent motion to allow them to remain under the custody of NBI for their safety.
July 11
Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which bars hazing in fraternities, sororities and educational organizations in any form, including training for citizen soldiers and citizen armies.The law amended RA 8049 or an act regulating hazing and other forms of initiation rites in fraternities, sororities and organizations.
July 24
The 10 members of Aegis Juris accused of violating the anti-hazing law pleaded not guilty during their arraignment at the RTC.
Aug. 14
Ventura identified 10 of his fellow fratmen who were linked to Atio’s death during a trial at the Manila RTC Branch 20.
Sept. 4
The DOJ showed the wooden paddle that was allegedly used by the Aegis Juris fratmen during the initiation rites that led to Atio’s death.
2019
June 17
Solano was found guilty of obstruction of justice by Judge Carolina Esguerra of Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 and received a two- to four-year prison sentence. He was found guilty of fabricating information to the police over the hazing incident.
Sept. 22
In a radio interview, Carmina called on lawmakers to put hazing in the list of heinous crimes following the death of Philippine Military Academy cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Sept. 18, 2019. She said the anti-hazing law was being continuously disregarded, and saw Dormitorio as a victim of hazing like her son.
Dec. 10
The 10 fratmen were denied bail by the Manila RTC. The prosecution was able to prove that they were present during the last hazing rituals that led to Atio’s death, according to Umali.
2020
April 13
Suspect Mhin Wei Chan filed a motion for temporary release on humanitarian grounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic that posed threats in congested and “overpopulated detention facilities.” In the motion, Chan cited the House justice committee’s suggestion for inmates to be granted provisional liberty in light of the health crisis, claiming he was qualified since “he is a first-time alleged offender and has no history of jumping bail.”
Then House justice committee vice chairman Alfredo Garabin clarified that the committee’s recommendation was “meant to benefit only those who are low-level offenders, as well as sick and elderly prisoners as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens the country.”
2022
Feb. 24
The Manila RTC Branch 11 rejected the appeal of the fratmen to dismiss the case due to lack of merit. Judge Shirley Magsipoc-Pagalilauan denied the demurrer to evidence separately filed by the 10 Aegis Juris members. A demurrer is a motion asserting that the evidence presented is not enough to prove the case. The ruling said the prosecution was able to establish all the elements of the offense of hazing as well as the presence of all the accused during the hazing.
Nov. 7
The Court of Appeals (CA) ruled that the majority of the evidence used by the prosecution against the 10 fratmen would be excluded.
In its 74-page decision, the appellate court said the items taken by authorities at the Aegis Juris Law Resource Center in Sampaloc were considered “inadmissible evidence” because they were not included in the list of items stated in the warrant. The police suspected that the resource center was the location where Atio underwent hazing.
2023
Oct. 1
Trangia’s petition for review of Pagalilauan’s refusal to inhibit from trying the case was denied for lack of merit. Pagalilauan previously rejected the motions of the other respondents to dismiss the hazing case against them.
2024
April 25
The CA junked Trangia’s petition that sought to overturn a decision of the Manila RTC to deny his bid to dismiss the case against him. According to the appellate court, the prosecution was able to show the connection between the crime and the presence of Trangia and his fellow fratmen.
Aug. 12
Carmina told The Flame the verdict on the suspects in the hazing case of Atio would be out on Oct. 1, 2024.
“We express our gratitude and appreciation for the support of the Faculty of Arts and Letters… We would ask in prayer on October 1 as we await the justice that we deserve,” she said.
Carmina said the Castillo family has remained in contact with Vatican representatives to seek support regarding the case. As a pontifical university, UST is under the authority of the Holy See, the government of the Catholic Church that operates from the Vatican. F
