THE MANILA Regional Trial Court Branch 20 has denied the petition for bail of the 10 fratmen indicted in the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017.
In an order dated Dec. 10, 2019, the Manila court said it had found “the evidence of guilt of each of the accused [to be] strong,” thus denying Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, Danielle Hans Rodrigo, Joshua Macabali, Axel Hipe, Marcelino Bagtang, Robin Ramos and Jose Miguel Salamat’s petition for bail.
LOOK: The Manila court found evidence of guilt of each of the accused "strong,” thus denying the 10 fratmen's petition for bail. pic.twitter.com/XlzjLYBRfX
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) January 3, 2020
Carmina Castillo, mother of Atio, told the Varsitarian: “We welcome the decision of the court for junking the bail petition. It proves that hazing occurred and Atio died of severe physical injuries and not of a medical condition. The resolution also stated that the evidence of guilt for each of the 10 accused is strong, which we believe.
In a Facebook message, Carmina Castillo, Atio's mother, tells the Varsitarian: "We welcome the decision of the court for junking the bail petition. The resolution also stated that the evidence of guilt for each of the 10 accused is strong which we believe." pic.twitter.com/iT4LIYgLhN
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) January 4, 2020
The 10 fratmen were charged by the Department of Justice in March 2018 for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
Officers and members of a fraternity who participate in hazing rites, where a victim dies as a result, face life imprisonment under Section 4 of the Anti-Hazing Law.
In June 2019, the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 found John Paul Solano, the registered medical technologist who brought Atio to the Chinese General Hospital after the hazing rites, guilty of obstruction of justice.
Solano was found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of providing false and misleading information to law enforcement and investigating agencies. Judge Marivic Balisi-Umalis penned the ruling.
