11 Aegis Juris fratmen indicted for Atio Castillo fatal hazing

The Department of Justice has filed charges against 11 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity for their alleged involvement in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in September 2017.

Murder and robbery charges were not among the charges recommended and eventually filed against the respondents due to "insufficiency of evidence," according to DOJ Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, Jr. on Thursday.

In a 49-page resolution dated March 6, the DOJ said it found probable cause to indict the following 10 Aegis Juris members for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law:

• Arvin Balag
• Ralph Trangia
• Oliver John Audrey Onofre
• Mhin Wei Chan
• Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo
• Joshua Joriel Macabali
• Axel Munrio Hipe
• Marcelino Bagtang
• Jose Miguel Salamat
• Robin Ramos

"The presence and participation of the said respondents in the initiation rites were established by the statements of both respondents Solano and Ventura. As regards respondents Balag and Trangia, their presence and participation are further corroborated by the fact that their respective vehicles were used to transport Atio's body to Chinese General Hospital on September 17, 2017," the resolution said.

The DOJ also filed charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against John Paul Solano.

The cases were filed against the accused before the Manila Regional Trial Court. No bail was recommended.

Catalan said the resolution was largely based on the testimony of Mark Anthony Ventura, the Aegis Juris member who is now under the government's witness protection program.

In what Catalan called a "credible" and "believable" testimony, Ventura narrated his version of events on the night Castillo underwent initiation rites. He said the victim was punched, paddled, and made to drink egg yolk he was made to believe was his "masters'" saliva, among others. 

Charges against Ventura were dismissed.

Charges against 10 other respondents and the Aegis Juris Foundation were dismissed for lack of probable cause, while those against UST law dean Nilo Divina and law faculty secretary Arthur Capili were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

In a statement, Divina said he was "happy and relieved to be finally cleared of any wrongdoing" in relation with Castillo's death.

"I continue to pray for justice for Atio and have full faith in our legal system," he said.

Antonio and Rosemarie Trangia, parents of Ralph, were cleared of obstruction of justice. While the woman indeed fled the country with her son, "their eventual return to the Philippines negates her intent to facilitate the escape of the latter," said the resolution.

Furthermore, the DOJ in its resolution recommended further investigation on 10 other members of the fraternity in order to determine their involvement in the crimes charged.

The respondents were the subject of criminal complaints for murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law filed by police on September 25, 2017.

Divina was later included as a respondent, charged with perjury, obstruction of justice, and murder.

Castillo died of “severe blunt traumatic injuries” after attending the “welcoming rites” of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.

The tragedy reignited discussions on hazing, triggered a Senate probe, and led to the expulsion of eight UST law students. —NB/KG/KBK, GMA News