LIST: Fatal Hazing Cases

Hazing has taken the lives of many young individuals in the past few years, and despite its fatal consequences has apparently continued with the recent death of an 18-year-old student in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

Below is a list of other hazing incidents in the country:

Horacio Castillo

Horacio “Atio” Castillo III was a freshman law student in the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

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

In March 2018, after months of investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges against 11 members of the fraternity.

The Justice Department filed cases against fraternity members 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, and Robin Ramos for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.

Meanwhile, charges of perjury and obstruction of justice were filed against John Paul Solano, another Aegis Juris fratman. Solano told police that he found Castillo lying on the road before he brought him to the hospital.

The DOJ, however, dismissed charges against 10 others and the Aegis Juris Foundation for lack of probable cause while the charges against Civil Law dean Nilo Divina and law faculty secretary Arthur Capili were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

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

Meanwhile, the promulgation of the hazing case against the 10 members is expected to take place on Tuesday, October 1 before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11.

Darwin Dormitorio

There is also the case of Darwin Dormitorio, a cadet of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

The 20-year old plebe died at the PMA Hospital on September 18, 2019, a day after he was diagnosed with urinary tract infection. The diagnosis was cardiopulmonary arrest probably secondary to blunt thoracoabdominal injury probably due to mauling.

Before his death, Dormitorio wrote in his journal of being demoralized and recorded entries detailing the excessive punishment and abuse that he had to endure from upperclassmen.

READ: 'Darwin Dormitorio’s last days and final hours'

In 2023, Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 5 convicted cadets Julius Carlo Tadena and Christian Zacarias who were charged with inflicting “slight physical injuries" and sentenced them to 30 days of imprisonment.

The RTC ordered both accused to pay moral damages of P100,000 and attorneys fees of P50,000 each.

In August this year, RTC Branch 5 also found Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr. guilty of murder and violating the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

The same court also found Tadena guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Act.

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

The Dormitorio family has a pending administrative case against the doctors of the PMA.

John Matthew Salilig

John Matthew Salilig was a chemical engineering student at Adamson University.

The body of the 24-year-old student was buried in a shallow grave in Cavite, more than a week after he was last seen alive.

Salilig took part in initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity- Adamson chapter. He was already a member of the chapter in Zamboanga.

In March 2023, the DOJ indicted fraternity members Earl Romero (Slaughter), grand triskelion Tung Cheng Teng Jr. (Nike), Jerome Ochoco Balot (Allie), Sandro Victorino (Loki), Michael Ricalde (Alcazar), Mark Muñoz Pedrosa (Makoy), and master initiator Daniel Perry (Sting) for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018.

According to the DOJ, the panel said that all the respondents planned and participated in the hazing of Salilig, neophyte Roi Dela Cruz, and two others.

It said the complainants were also able to establish that Salilig’s injuries led to his death.

A witness previously said that fraternity members decided not to bring Salilig to the hospital after he experienced a seizure during the welcoming rites.

The case is currently being tried before a Biñan court. —RF, GMA Integrated News