The Manila Regional Trial Court ordered on Thursday the arrest of 10 members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity who were indicted in the hazing death of UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.
The court issued warrants of arrest against Mhin Wei Chan, Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang Jr., Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali and Hans Matthew Rodrigo who were formally charged with violating the Anti-Hazing Law last March 8.
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“Upon personal evaluation of the DOJ (Department of Justice) Panel of Prosecutors as well as all the supporting evidence on record, this Court finds probable cause and that there is a necessity for placing all the accused under custody in order not to frustrate the ends of justice,” the court order read.
The court pointed out that the violation of the Anti-Hazing Law is a “non-bailable offense.”
In a hearing last March 16, the court denied the petitions of Salamat and Ramos to dismiss the charges against them or be allowed to post bail.
READ: Aegis Juris fratmen seek bail after indictment in Atio case
The court also denied Ralph Trangia’s petition to suspend the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him as it was a “prohibited motion” in accordance with the Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases.
John Paul Solano, a licensed medical technologist who brought Atio to the Chinese General Hospital after the hazing rites of the Aegis Juris Fraternity in September, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.
