COURT CONVICTS 10  FRATMEN IN ATIO CASTILLO HAZING DEATH

THE Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 on Tuesday, October 1, has convicted  10 members of a fraternity who were involved in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law  freshman  Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017.

Sentenced to up to 40 years in prison were Aegis Juris Fraternity members Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali, Ralph Trangia, John Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Daniel Hans Rodrigo, and Marcelino Bagtang Jr..

The court also ordered them to pay more than P600,000 in damages.

 “The untimely death of Atio caused pain, agony, anxiety, suffering and mental anguish to his heirs because it deprived them his company, love, support and companionship,” Presiding Judge Shirley Paglilauan said in her ruling.

Atio’s parents thanked the government and private prosecutors, as well Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, for the prompt handling of the high-profile case.

The case had been filed for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8049 or the original Anti-Hazing Law of 1995, which was enacted following the hazing death of Ateneo Law School student Lenny Villa.

The law was subsequently amended after the incident involving Castillo.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the ruling of the Manila RTC.

Gatchalian said:  “The road to justice has been long and challenging, especially for Atio’s family who waited seven years for this day to come, but today marks a victory for the rule of law against the evil of hazing.”

He said Castillo’s death pushed lawmakers to pass Anti-Hazing Act (RA 11053).

Despite the law’s passage, Gatchalian said hazing still exists.

The senator said that from 2014 to 2024, 17 deaths from hazing were reported, the latest of which was Ren Joseph Bayan Bayan, an 18-year-old student in Jaen, Nueva Ecija who died from hazing injuries on September 29.

“Ang hamon sa bansa ay tiyaking wala nang kapwa Pilipino ang mamatay nang wala sa oras dahil sa mga walang kabuluhang karahasan,.” said Gatchalian as he urged institutions, including schools and law enforcement agencies, to help eliminate hazing.