A MANILA court has convicted the 10 Aegis Juris fraternity members charged over the death of UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017, finding them guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Law.
Seven years after the killing of Atio, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 ruled that the following fratmen were “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of violating Section 4 (1) of Republic Act 8049 or the old Anti-Hazing Law, or hazing that results in death:
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.
READ: Who are the 10 Aegis Juris fratmen accused in Atio’s death?
They face the penalty of reclusion perpetua and were ordered to pay expenses and damages amounting to P686,800: P461,800.00 as actual expenses (burial costs); P75,000 as civil indemnity; P75,000 as moral damages; and, P75,000 as exemplary damages. This amount shall be paid “jointly and severally.”
“Other than their own self-serving denial that there was no hazing that happened to Atio on Sept. 17, 2017 and their alibi that they left the fraternity library before the start of the final rites at 2:00 a.m., all the accused failed to present any credible evidence or disinterested witness to support their denial and alibi,” the decision penned by Judge Shirley Magsipoc-Pagalilauan read.
“[N]ot one of the accused’s defenses has withstood the strength of the prosecution’s evidence,” it added. “Hence, the conviction of the 10 accused is warranted.”
Carmina Castillo, Atio’s mother, said the conviction proved that the UST law fraternity practiced hazing. She had repeatedly told reporters before the verdict’s release that the prosecution had established solid evidence and that she was expecting a “perfect conviction.”
She also called out UST and the Faculty of Civil Law, even singling out its dean, Nilo Divina.
“We believe the UST should make changes. We are holding them responsible for what they did to our son. They failed to be the second parent … he (Divina) himself should have done something beforehand,” she told reporters after the verdict was released.
“They should have prevented the hazing, the crime of hazing from happening. Now, we are very happy, we have gotten our conviction. We would like to ask the dean, Dean Divina, what can you say about this?” she added.
Divina, an alumnus of the Aegis Juris fraternity, told the Varsitarian that the verdict proved the importance of trusting the legal system and due process.
“I acknowledge the court’s decision in this case,” he said in a message shortly after the verdict’s release. “It underscores the importance of the rule of law and our trust in due process and the legal system.”
“I continue to pray for all parties concerned.”
Atio died in the morning of Sept. 17, 2017, after being subjected to 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.
Apart from receiving the paddle strikes, Atio was also punched by his “brods,” struck on the arms with a spatula, forced to sing and dance, drink raw egg yolk, remove his underwear, crawl toward the “masters,” and perform pumping and duck walks.
The 10 fratmen behind Atio’s hazing death surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in March 2018 and have been detained at the Manila City Jail since May 2018. In March 2022, they unsuccessfully sought to be cleared from charges, claiming the prosecution had no sufficient evidence.
The first conviction in the hazing slay was in 2019 when John Paul Solano, who brought Atio to the Chinese General Hospital, was found guilty of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
Atio’s death influenced several key policy changes on fraternities.
In UST, all fraternities were ordered by the Office for Student Affairs in May 2018 to indefinitely “cease and desist” from recruiting members or “engaging in any kind of activities.”
Congress passed Republic Act 11053 in 2018, amending the old Anti-Hazing Law and banning all forms of hazing. with reports from Sydney Venice V. Berba, Janica Kate J. Buan and Carlo Jose H. Ruga
