AFTER seven long years of hearings and legal battles, the parents of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III are finally approaching the day they have anticipated for years. On Oct. 1, a Manila court is set to deliver its verdict on the Aegis Juris fratmen implicated in the death of the UST law freshman.
“We’re very much prepared (for Oct. 1),” Atio’s mother, Carmina Castillo, told the Varsitarian. “It’s the day we’ve been waiting for, and we will all be there.”
“Sana mabigyan si Atio ng justice that he deserves — the justice and dignity he deserves.”
Countless pages of court documents have been filed and numerous witnesses have taken the stand since the court case that stemmed from Atio’s tragic death on Sept. 17, 2017, at the hands of Aegis Juris fraternity members.
Despite the length and extent of the proceedings, Carmina said she and her husband, Horacio Castillo Jr., never skipped a hearing as it was the only way in which they were able to relive the final hours of their son.
“We were always present kasi we took value e. Binibigyan namin ng halaga ‘yong pag-attend ng hearing kasi it’s the story of our son. Story ni Atio ‘yan e,” she said.
“Every document, every witness that we presented, parang kinukwento sa amin ni Atio through the witness kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya,” she added. “I want to listen to every second no’ng bago siya namatay. ‘Yong every second that we have, pinapahalagahan ko ‘yon.”
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Only one conviction has been made in the Atio slay so far. John Paul Solano, the Aegis Juris fratman who lied to the police about finding Atio sprawled out on the pavement in Tondo, was found guilty of obstruction of justice in 2019.
Carmina had described Solano’s conviction as the “first step to a perfect conviction.”
READ MORE: ‘First step to a perfect conviction’ — Atio’s parents on Solano conviction
Legal proceedings for Atio’s case even spanned through the Covid-19 pandemic, during which suspect Mhin Wei Chan sought temporary release “on humanitarian grounds,” citing overcrowding in Manila City Jail.
Ten more suspects remain in custody, awaiting the court’s decision: Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang Jr., Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali, Hans Matthew Rodrigo, and Chan.
While the road to a verdict has been long, Horacio said they were still “lucky” that it took seven years to reach a resolution, considering the due process that had to be followed.
“As much as we wanted na matapos agad, we’re also lucky na it only took seven years,” Atio’s father told the Varsitarian. “Mayroon pang mga hazing cases na up to now, still pending in court.”
“We cannot take it lightly. Naging buhay namin itong kasong ito for seven years,” he added. “Ipaglalaban mo ‘yong anak mo. That’s what drives me and my wife.”
Carmina expressed optimism that the Oct. 1 verdict would bring the “perfect conviction” at last.
“The prosecution has presented [a case] that can warrant a conviction,” she said. “I believe in a conviction.” Amanda Luella A. Rivera with reports from Amador Denzel M. Teston, Sydney Venice V. Berba, and Hannah Joyce V. Andaya
