Manila court convicts 10 fratmen in Atio Castillo hazing case

A Manila court on Tuesday convicted 10 fraternity members in the case of slain University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, seven years after his death in 2017.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 found Arvin Rivera Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, John Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Marcelino Bagtang Jr. guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995.

They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment.

“The untimely death of Atio caused pain, agony, anxiety, suffering, and mental anguish to his heirs because it deprived them of his company, love, support, and companionship,” the Court said.

The Court also ordered them to jointly and severally pay the heirs of Castillo P461,800 in actual expenses, P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages, and P75,000 as exemplary damages.

“All the amounts shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum upon finality of the decision until fully paid,” the court said.

LOOK: The family of UST law freshman Atio Castillo III is now at the Manila RTC Br. 11 for the promulgation of his hazing case.

Castillo passed away at 22 years old in September 2017 after the initiation rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/IsD8FSsT6X

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) October 1, 2024

Carmina, Castillo’s mother, said their victory was the result of a “team effort.” 

She also called on the university to check its policies.

“We all placed our hundred percent and we got our conviction. At this point, I would like to say that we are holding UST responsible for the death of our son. It has been proven that Aegis Juris has been practicing hazing. It is time to check your policies,” she said.

Meanwhile, Castillo’s father, Horacio, said it was about time for “heads to roll in UST.”

For his part, Atty. Nilo Divina, the dean of the UST Faculty of Civil Law extended his heartfelt sympathy and prayer to Castillo’s family.

However, he said he disagreed with Carmina’s remark that UST and the faculty failed in their duty to protect Castillo.

“The university and the faculty have always implemented and upheld policies that promote the safety and welfare of all students,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, no institution is spared from the actions of individuals who choose to disregard these measures,” he added.

Divina said that they remain committed to ensuring a safe environment for students to prevent a repetition of such an incident.

The 10 fratmen have been detained at the Manila City Jail since May 2018.

READ: TIMELINE: Atio Castillo hazing death case

Castillo was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital at 22 years old on September 17, 2017 after the initiation of the Aegis Juris fraternity, which was based in the Faculty of Civil Law.

READ: LIST: Fatal hazing cases

In 2019, the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14  found Solano guilty of obstruction and sentenced him to two to four years of prison.

It was Solano who brought an unconscious Castillo from the frat library to the Chinese General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

He initially told police that he found Castillo lying on the road and covered with a blanket.

Senators praise verdict

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the court's decision, noting that Castillo's death led to the passage of a strengthened Anti-Hazing Law.

"Matagal ang pitong taong paghihintay (Seven years is a long time to wait.). And while the court’s verdict will not bring Atio back, we hope it provides some comfort to his family who fought for justice all these years," Zubiri said.

"In the wake of Atio’s death, we made sure to strengthen our Anti-Hazing Law, so we can put a stop to the barbaric hazing practices that have taken too many young lives. The recent verdict is a clear message that no one is above the law – those who perpetrate such acts will face justice," he added.

Zubiri expressed hope that the court's decision will serve as a "stern warning" against all fraternities and organizations that "still refuse to end their culture of hazing.

Both solons also raised the recent death of an 18-year-old student in Nueva Ecija.

"The law will find you, and you will pay for your crimes," Zubiri said.

Gatchalian, for his part, lamented that despite the passage of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, "some of our fellow Filipinos still die due to hazing."

"From 2014 to 2024, mass media reported 17 deaths from hazing, the most recent being a Grade 11 student from Nueva Vizcaya. Alongside the pursuit of justice for other hazing victims, we must also ensure that our institutions, including schools and law enforcement agencies, work diligently to eliminate hazing," Gatchalian said.

"Ang hamon sa bansa ay tiyaking wala nang kapwa Pilipino ang mamatay nang wala sa oras dahil sa mga walang kabuluhang karahasan," he added.

(The challenge for the country is to ensure that no Filipino dies prematurely due to senseless violence.)
—KG/RF, GMA Integrated News