THE PARENTS of hazing victim Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has bared plans to present new evidence before the Department of Justice (DOJ) after it upheld its decision on Wednesday to clear Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina and other alumni of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.
In a text message to the Varsitarian, Carmina Castillo, Atio’s mother, confirmed that their petition for review filed on April 19 was junked because it was late, as stated in a resolution by the Justice department dated July 5.
The Castillo camp is accusing Divina, who was not involved in the hazing, of negligence.
“[The petition] was dismissed because it was filed way beyond the period allowed by law, nothing else. I should say this resolution is actually favorable on our part since we can now file a new complaint with new evidence. A new preliminary investigation,” she said.
The petition questioned the March 6 resolution that indicted 10 Aegis Juris fratmen over the hazing death of the 22-year-old law freshman last September, and cleared Divina and 23 other members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity for lack of probable cause and evidence.
READ: Aegis Juris fratmen indicted in Atio hazing death; Divina cleared of charges
The petition, however, was filed 35 days after the resolution was released and 20 days past the 15-day period imposed by the National Prosecution Service.
Divina told the Varsitarian he was “happy” that his name was cleared again, and said he wanted “peace and discernment” for the parties involved in the hazing case.
“I am happy to be once again vindicated, this time by the [DOJ], considering there is really no legal or factual basis to include me in the charges,” he said in a text message.
The Justice department also denied the petition of Ralph Trangia, one of the fratmen tagged in Atio’s death, for non-compliance with requirements.
By the order of the Manila Regional Trial Court, the Aegis Juris fratmen charged with the violation of Anti-Hazing Law were transferred to Manila City Jail last May 23, two months after they voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation.
Aside from Trangia, the others charged for the hazing death were Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang Jr., Ralph Trangia, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali and Hans Matthew Rodrigo. M. de Jemel and J. A. R. Manahan
