SEVEN YEARS after the death of UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, a Manila court is scheduled to issue its verdict on Aegis Juris fraternity members charged for his death in September 2017.
Atio’s mother, Carmina Castillo, confirmed to the Varsitarian that Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11 will issue its decision on the hazing case on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 1:30 p.m.
“The Atio Castillo hazing case is coming to a decision after seven years,” Carmina said. “Although that may seem long, we agree that due process must be followed for the courts to effectively decide on the case.”
“We feel that our son Atio did not die in vain.”
Atio died in the morning of Sept. 17, 2017, after being subjected to several rounds of paddle hits by members of Aegis Juris as part of the fraternity’s initiation rites. Collapsing after the fifth hit, Atio was unable to be resuscitated by frat members.
A day after his death, UST launched an investigation into the case and vowed to deliver justice in the death of the Faculty of Civil Law freshman.
Eight law students were kicked out of UST in February 2018, following the investigation of a committee formed by then rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. The committee found them “guilty of violating the Code of Conduct and Discipline and imposing the supreme penalty of expulsion.”
In March 2018, 10 Aegis Juris members surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation after the Manila RTC ordered their arrest: 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.
They remain in custody at the Manila City Jail after being indicted for violating the Anti-Hazing Law. They were denied bail.
READ THE VARSITARIAN’S TIMELINE ON ATIO’S SLAY: LOOKING BACK: Timeline on the Atio hazing case
The first conviction for the hazing slay was made in 2019 when John Paul Solano, who brought Atio to the Chinese General Hospital, where the initiate was declared dead on arrival, was found guilty of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
In 2022, the 10 suspects behind Atio’s death sought to dismiss the criminal charges against them, claiming the prosecution had no sufficient evidence and that Atio died of heart enlargement, not hazing. The Manila RTC junked their petition “for lack of merit.”
The latest hearing of Atio’s case was held last June 7.
Despite the long wait, Carmina said she believed the prosecution had built a solid case, likely leading to the suspects’ conviction.
“We believe that the prosecution is successful in presenting its case to warrant a conviction,” she said. “When convicted, all the accused face a hefty charge of life imprisonment for violating the Anti-Hazing Law.”
The Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, or Republic Act 11054, imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua plus a fine of P3,000,000 on convicts who had planned or participated in hazing that resulted in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation. Ella Mae A. Sison with reports from Hannah Joyce V. Andaya
