NBI, CHR probing hazing of UST student
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday was directed to investigate the death of a University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student who died allegedly after a fraternity hazing. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II gave the order to investigate the death of 22-year-old UST law freshman Horacio Tomas Castillo III who
was found dead Sunday morning on a road in Tondo, Manila.
“As a parent, myself, I feel their loss and anguish,” said Aguirre in a statement as he expressed his condolences to the Castillo family.
“We will endeavor to see to it that those who are responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” he assured.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), meanwhile, has already started its own investigation.
CHR-National Capital Region investigator Johnny Torres went to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters in Ermita on Tuesday to secure for copies of the police spot and progress reports on the case.
The move, he said, is to show that the CHR protects the right of all.
“Ang concept naman ng CHR ay universal. We make no distinction as to who the victim is. Sa case na ‘to, since it is a case of hazing ay minarapat na naming imbestigahan, contrary sa general notion na we only investigate violations committed by the state,” he told reporters.
While it was the first time that CHR coordinated with them in an investigation of a case like Castillo’s, MPD spokesman Erwin Margarejo said the move is a welcome development.
Apart from the NBI investigation, Aguirre said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to assisting the Castillo family with regards to the death of Horacio III.
“The Department of Justice condemns any act of senseless violence committed against our youth and against any innocent person for that matter,” he said.
Aguirre, who himself is a fraternity member of the Lex Taleonis Fraternitas along with President Duterte, stressed: “Deaths and physical injuries due to hazing have no place in a civilized society.”
“The loss of a life should never be the price that one should pay for brotherhood and acceptance,” he said.
Because of the incident, UST Faculty of Law Dean Nilo Divina preventively suspended officers and members of the Aegis Juris fraternity, barring them from entering the campus and attending classes.
The family said the young Castillo left Saturday morning to attend Aegis Juris Fraternity’s overnight welcoming ceremony at UST and was supposed to be home Sunday morning.
Though hesitant to join the fraternity, Castillo was finally convinced after he had been assured there would be no hazing.
Appeal for justice
On Tuesday, the Castillo family reiterated its appeal for justice.
“We plead with the administrators of UST and the administrators of UST Faculty of Civil Law to ensure a thorough, impartial, and swift investigation. We call on Dean Nilo Divina to exhibit heroic leadership and champion the rights of Atio, his fallen student, regardless of his affiliation with this fraternity, the family appealed in a statement, referring to the Aegis Juris Fraternity.
Divina clarified that he has been on leave from the fraternity since eight years ago when he assumed as dean of the Faculty of Civil Law. Senseless murder In a statement, the family said it is clear to them that the young Castillo, also known as “Atio,” was killed by criminals from the Aegis Juris Fraternity in a “blatant act of hazing.”
“We decry the senseless murder of our Atio. He was our most precious and cherished son, brother, nephew, cousin, and grandson...We grieve and despair at the life he was not able to live, and the cruel and inhumane way by which it was cut short,” the family said.
We “will not rest and will not stop” until the 22-year-old's killers are held liable for the crime, the family added.
“The Aegis Juris Fraternity should not allow the acts of Atio’s killers to forever tarnish their reputation and define their character, lest they be deemed complicit in Atio’s murder,” the family said.
“I took a leave eight years ago when I assumed the deanship. I have not been involved nor participated in any of their activities since then,” Divina told the Varsitarian, the official publication of UST, in an interview. “I am not aware of any hazing activity. We prohibit and denounce hazing in any form or manner. We also prohibited recruitment of firstyear students to any fraternity.”
Castillo’s remains now lie at the Sanctuario De San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati City.
‘Person of interest’
While the NBI and the CHR have the joined the probe, the MPD is now considering the “good Samaritan,” John Paul Solano, who took Castillo to the hospital as a “person of interest” in the case.
Margarejo said Barangay 133 officials have submitted a certification disputing Solano’s statement that he found Castillo wrapped in a blanket on a sidewalk at the corner of Honorio Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Balut, Tondo at about 7:50 a.m. Sunday, saying that they did not monitor such incident.
“He is already considered a person of interest because there are conflicting statements in his sworn statement, considering that it was already disputed by the barangay officials in a barangay certification,” Margarejo said.
Barangay 133 Zone 11 Kagawad Daniel Sayson had earlier shown to members of the media the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the area at the time when the body was supposedly found and only people and motorcycles passing by were recorded.
There was no commotion. Of course if someone dropped a body there, the tendency is people would flock to it, people in the area will immediately find out,” Sayson said.
Margarejo said they also found out that Solano is a law student, something that he failed to disclose in his sworn statement.
“Apparently, he is a part-time medical technologist at San Lazaro Hospital. We also received information that he is a law student, which is worthy of an investigation considering that the victim is also a law student,” he said.
Solano, Margarejo said, is no longer coordinating with the MPD.
With this development, the MPD spokesman said he is hopeful that the case will be resolved soon.
Senate probe sought Meanwhile, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri sought a Senate investigation, in aid of legislation, into the death of Castillo in a bid to hold accountable those responsible for the fatal fraternity hazing.
The demand was contained in Senate Resolution No. 504 filed Zubiri, which also condemned in the strongest sense the death of Castillo.
“We have to stop senseless killings from hazing. The home, schools, police and the courts should act as one. Or else, our children will end as just another statistic of unsolved crimes. That is the dark probability when one lives in a country with a weak criminal justice system,” Zubiri said.
“Issues of academic freedom, right to self-organization and options to police one's own ranks should be tackled by the whole school community. Likewise, the socialization process in fraternities, organizations and societies should be balanced with the student's scholastic responsibilities,” he said.
Zubiri said the Philippine National Police (PNP), prosecutors, and the Courts should tackle this head on. (With reports from Anna Liza V. Alavaren and Mario B. Casayuran)