THE MOTHER of slain UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III on Sunday lauded UST’s decision to expel eight law students involved in her son’s death, but said Civil Law faculty members should also be held accountable.
Carmina Castillo urged the UST administration to investigate faculty members linked to Aegis Juris, the law fraternity implicated in the September 2017 hazing death of the 22-year-old Atio.
“We thank UST for their actions but they still need to answer a lot of questions, like how about the faculty members? [T]hey are as much involved since they knew about Atio’s death Sunday morning or noon and they did not even call the police to report or at least surrender to the police the fraternity members,” Carmina said in a text message to the Varsitarian.
“UST should investigate further that Aegis Juris practices hazing…UST should have acted on this beforehand. Well, better late than never,” she added.
Gerardo Castillo, the law freshman’s uncle, told the Varsitarian he was “delighted” after UST “finally initiated what is due for Atio.”
The University earlier confirmed in a statement that an investigating committee formed by Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. had found eight law students guilty of violating the UST Code of Conduct and Discipline.
The panel also issued a resolution ordering the students’ expulsion. The names of the expelled students were withheld, however.
READ: University expels 8 law students in Atio hazing death
Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina said he would implement the investigating committee’s resolution.
“The committee has exercised the authority and carried out the mandate that the University has given. The Faculty of Civil Law will implement the committee’s resolution,” Divina told the Varsitarian in a text message.
