Horacio Castillo III Archives

Sep192018 No Comments

Defend Atio as a son, Castillo parents challenge Divina

By LUIS MIGUEL B. ARUCAN THE PARENTS of hazing victim Horacio “Atio” Castillo III challenged Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina to act on his word and defend Atio “as a son.” “Ilabas niya lahat ng frat members niya. If he really wants to defend Atio, come out. Ilabas niya lahat, all those who did wrong. Meron namang testimonya si Mark [Ventura]. Iniisa-isa naman niya,” Carmina told reporters after a trial on Tuesday. Divina is a member of Aegis Juris, the fraternity responsible for Atio’s death last year. The dean was tagged in the fraternity’s cover-up of the killing. However, Divina has insisted that he is a “non-active member” due to his duties as Civil Law dean. “Hindi niya (Atio) alam na may mangyayari sa kanyang masama. [...] Naniwala siya talaga na walang mangyaya

Sep172018 No Comments

Time has come for wounds from Atio hazing case to heal, says Secretary-General

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By ANGEL B. DUKHA III THE TIME has come for the wounds from the hazing case of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III to heal, said Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Jesus Miranda O.P. during a memorial service held on Monday for the first death anniversary of the Civil Law freshman. Castillo died last year after undergoing the initiation rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity. “After a year, don’t you think it’s about time that total healing would already happen? Time heals wounds […] It could be healed through prayers and it can also be healed if justice will be served to those responsible for such an abominable incident,” Miranda said. The Secretary-General added that the Castillo family was not the only one who was “hurt” by the incident but the University as well. “A deep and painful wo

Sep52018 No Comments

Atio’s parents confident in ‘perfect conviction’ against Aegis 10

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THE PARENTS of slain UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III said they are hopeful to secure a conviction against the ‘Aegis 10’ after a hearing on Tuesday. Horacio Jr. and Carmina Castillo said they are confident that they have a strong case against the members of Aegis Juris fraternity who were tagged in the death of their son on Sept. 17 last year. The 'Aegis 10' who are currently detained at the Manila City Jail are Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Mattew Rodrigo, and Marcelino Bagtang. “[We are] hopeful, very hopeful [...] we have a dead person, pinakamalakas na ebidensya ‘yun. [M]ayroon siyang mga tama sa braso. Indication na ‘yun ng hazing

Jul112018 No Comments

Stricter anti-hazing act signed into law

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By CRIS EUGENE T. GIANAN AN AMENDED version of the anti-hazing law, which now bans all forms of hazing, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 29 after an almost year-long debacle following the death of University of Santo Tomas Civil Law freshman Horacio Castillo III. Republic Act (R.A.) 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 prohibits “all forms of hazing [...] in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools including citizens’ military training and citizens’ army training.” The new law nullifies any waiver signed by the victim prior to the initiation rite, adding that “the defense that the recruit, neophyte, or applicant consented to being subjected to hazing shall not be available to persons prosecuted under this Act.” In addition, the new law imposes

Mar102018 No Comments

10 Aegis Juris fratmen indicted over Atio’s death

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THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 10 Aegis Juris members linked to the death of Faculty of Civil Law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio Castillo III. In a resolution released Thursday, the following 10 fraternity members were charged with violation of the Anti-Hazing Law: alleged Aegis Juris president Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Axel Munro Hipe, Marelino Bagtang, Jose Miguel Salamat, and Robin Ramos. Ramos was not included in the 16 fraternity members who were placed under an immigration lookout bulletin order filed by the DOJ in September. There is no bail recommended for the indicted members. The resolution, furthermore, recommended fratman John Paul Sol...

Feb62018 No Comments

Of Brotherhood, Bruises, and Blood: What’s next after Atio’s death by hazing?

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WHEN HE entered the gates of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and walked past the Arch of the Centuries, Communication Arts junior Alexander Guevarra was convinced he was safe within the walls of the campus. “Akala ko ‘yung UST, safe space siya para sa lahat, [a] harm-free environment.” But now, Guevarra no longer sees UST as a top-of-the-line institution, all the more as one of the finest Catholic universities in the country after the fatal hazing case of Civil Law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. On Sept. 17, Castillo was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital, following the “welcoming rites” of Civil Law-based fraternity Aegis Juris that he attended a day before. Aegis Juris member and suspectturned-state-witness Mark

Nov82017 No Comments

Senators slam Solano over inconsistent account on Atio’s death

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By MARIA EDEN T. DINO AS FINAL autopsy revealed that UST law student Horacio Castillo III died of severe blunt traumatic injuries in both upper limbs, senators hit on Monday Aegis Juris Fraternity member John Paul Solano who claimed that the victim’s death resulted from a pre-existing heart condition. “Noong unang mga labas mo naaawa ka sa bata (Castillo) tapos ngayon parang pinapagaan mo pa marahil ang mga naging responsibilidad ng mga kasamahan mo kaya isinisi mo pa sa atake sa puso,” Sen. Grace Poe told Solano in a senate hearing. “Parang lumalabas pa sa iyong salaysay na siya pa ang may kasalanan sa kaniyang sariling pagkamatay dahil inatake siya sa puso,” she added. Castillo’s parents denied in a previous interview that their son has any heart ailment. Solano explai

Nov12017 No Comments

Aegis Juris ‘head’ denies perjury, obstruction of justice

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THE ALLEGED incumbent president of the Civil Law-based fraternity Aegis Juris contested on Monday the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice filed by the camp of slain UST law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. In a counter affidavit signed by Arvin Balag, he detailed laws and stated that the charges against him should be “dismissed outright for lack of merit.” “As one of the respondents in the instant case, I am provided with this constitutionally mandated presumption of innocence. I have in my favour the presumption of innocence,” Balag said. “Unless there is still probable cause, the instant criminal complaint against me should be dismissed. Balag is still detained at the Pasay City Jail following the order of Sen. Panfilo Lacson afte

Oct302017 No Comments

‘Conscience cannot be bought or taught,’ regent tells suspects in Atio’s case

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MANIPULATION OF the truth can never justify one’s conscience, the regent of the Faculty of Arts and Letters told the suspects in the death of Civil Law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio Castillo III. “For a Thomasian must, more or less a lawyer, not own an evil act through legal maneuverings, technicalities, and deceitful legal remedies [as these] will never appease our consciences because conscience cannot be bought or taught,” Rev. Fr. Rodel Aligan said on Oct. 26 during the Mass commemorating the 40th day since the death of Castillo. Aligan said it is through admitting one’s actions that peace of mind can be attained. “Those who hide in the cloak of anonymity are cowards and cannot come to terms with their conscience,” he said. “We pray for their enlightenment,

Oct272017 No Comments

Civil Law dean, 64 others placed under new immigration lookout order

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JUSTICE SECRETARY Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday issued an immigration lookout bulletin order for 65 persons of interests, including UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina, on the case of slain Civil Law freshman and Political Science alumnus Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. The immigration lookout order was issued following a Senate hearing held Oct. 18 which revealed the alleged meeting of some members of the Civil Law-based fraternity Aegis Juris in a hotel in Quezon City to discuss Castillo’s case and the planned cover-up of the victim's death. On Sept. 20, 16 members of Aegis Juris were placed under a previous immigration lookout bulletin order. Former Aegis Juris Secretary Marc Anthony Ventura, accompanied by his mother and lawyer, went to the office of Aguirre on Tuesd