(Updated as of 4:50 p.m.)
The mother of hazing victim and Civil Law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III challenged the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to overhaul its policies after a local court found ten members of the Aegis Juris fraternity guilty for the death of her son.
In an interview with The Flame, Carmina Castillo said UST had recognized the Aegis Juris fraternity for so long and had failed to conduct due diligence about its activities.
“We’re challenging the University of Santo Tomas to change their policies, to change their rules. You know, hazing is a practice of Aegis Juris,” Castillo said.
“I hope they do something. They should change their policies, they should change their, you know, make an overhaul,” she added.
Castillo said administrators should not be affiliated with any fraternity to prevent biases in decision-making.
In a separate interview, Castillo dared UST Civil Law Dean and Aegis Juris alumnus to react to the guilty ruling against the fraternity members tied to Atio’s death.
Atio died on Sept. 17, 2017, a day after he sent a text message telling his parents that he would go to a welcome party of the Aegis Juris fraternity.
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 found ten members of the Aegis Juris fraternity guilty over the death of Atio, who was also a Political Science alumnus.
In a ruling released on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the court slapped a life imprisonment sentence on fraternity members Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo and Marcelino Bagtang Jr. for violating the Anti-Hazing Law. All ten individuals are also ordered to jointly pay Atio’s family P686,800 in actual expenses, civil indemnity and damages. F — Christian Querol
(This is a developing story)
