Oct 212017
 

MANILA, Oct 10 (Mabuhay) — University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina on Tuesday shrugged off his inclusion in the criminal complaint pending before the Department of Justice in connection with the hazing death of Horacio Castillo III.

“I am sure it is baseless since I have not breached any law and have always discharged my functions as Dean with utmost diligence,” Divina said.

Divina however declined to comment in detail, saying he has yet to read the supplemental complaint filed by Castillo’s parents, Horacio II and Carminia, on Monday.

The UST law dean is facing charges for murder, perjury, violation of the Anti-Hazing Law (Republic Act 8049) and obstruction of justice.

In their supplemental complaint, the Castillos said Divina admitted during the Senate inquiry on September 25 that he was aware about Castillo’s hazing and injuries in the hands of members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity even before the freshman law student’s parents were informed.

The dean also allegedly did not act on the information as regards the hazing and Castillo’s fatal injuries.

“It is also worth noting that respondent school administrators [Divina and UST Faculty of Civil Law secretary Arthur Capili] are complicit in the cover-up of the hazing and murder of our son,” the complaint stated.

“Respondent Capili categorically stated [during the Senate hearing] that he already knew that a UST student died on Sunday, September 17, 2017, due to hazing. The same statement was made by respondent Divina. However, it should be stressed that our son was only positively identified by us and Atio’s uncle, Dr. Gerardo Castillo, during the early hours of September 18, 2017 around 3 or 4 in the morning. Until then, Atio was tagged as an unidentified body,” it added.

The Castillos said Divina also failed to ensure compliance of the fraternity on the notice requirement regarding any hazing or initiation rites under Section 2 of RA 8049.

“Our lawyers informed us that considering that it was indubitably shown that respondent Divina, knew of the hazing activities of his Aegis Juris breathren, the least that respondent Divina could have done was to assign at least two school representatives to be present at the initiation as required under Section 3 of the Anti-Hazing Law, to prevent the disastrous consequence that has befallen our son, Atio, and has claimed his life,” the complaint stated.

Divina had previously said UST could not be held liable for Castillo’s death, claiming the university maintained a “very strict” anti-hazing policy.

He also said that the incident happened outside the school premises, and the Aegis Juris fraternity, which conducted the deadly hazing rites for Castillo on September 17, was not an accredited school organization.

Divina’s co-respondents in the supplemental complaint include some Aegis Juris members and the board of trustees of the Aegis Juris Foundation Inc. (MNS)

Oct 072017
 
Lacson sees signs of ‘cover-up’ in Atio Castillo’s hazing case

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Dick Gordon, conducts a hearing on the P6.4 Billion worth of shabu shipment from China, on the possible malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance of the Bureau of Customs officials and employees.(MNS photo) MANILA, Sept 28 (Mabuhay) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said there is an “evident” attempt to conceal certain details in the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III. “Very evident ang cover-up. Malinaw yan. Kasi pagka frat may omerta yan, code of silence. Yan ang nagti-trigger ng cover-up,” Lacson told reporters. The 22-year-old University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student died of a massive heart attack after sustaining injuries allegedly during the initiation rites of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. Atio’s body was brought to the Chinese General Hospital (CGH) on September 18 with bruises and candle wax drippings. The Manila Police District (MPD) confirmed after an autopsy that Castillo had undergone hazing. It was later learned that John Paul Solano, the medical technologist who claimed to have found him and brought him to the hospital, was a member of the fraternity. He also admitted to issuing a false story that he found Castillo’s body by chance and brought it to CGH along Blumentritt Road upon orders from his frat brothers. The hazing supposedly took place at the Aegis Juris fraternity foundation office located on Laon-Laan-Navarra Street, which is less than a kilometer away from the UST campus that had its own hospital. “The mere fact napakaaga ang nangyari, tapos 9 Read More …

Oct 072017
 
Hazing rites that killed Atio Castillo took place at Aegis Juris frat office

John Paul Solano, one of the primary suspects in the death of University of Sto. Tomas law student hazing victim Horacio Castillo III takes his oath during the Senate inquiry on Castillo’s death, Monday. Some senators are now pushing for a total ban on hazing.(MNS photo) MANILA, Sept 26 (Mabuhay) — Freshman law student Horacio Castillo III underwent hazing rites that cost his life at the office of the fraternity that recruited him, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). Excerpts of the complaint filed by the MPD before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday against 18 individuals indicated that the initiation rites were held at the Aegis Juris Foundation Office on Laon-Laan and Navarra Streets near the University of Santo Tomas (UST). The complaint said the rites occurred between 12 midnight and 8 a.m. of September 17. Witnesses said they heard some “unusual noise” from people apparently having a drinking session inside the Aegis headquarters. Hours later, CCTV footage installed beside the Aegis Juris office showed that “a member was noticed hurriedly running towards the direction of the Aegis Juris office while another, [who] was observed busy using his cellular phone, appeared to be worried.” The police said that based on CCTV footage, John Paul Solano was part of the convoy that brought Castillo from the Aegis Juris Foundation office to the Chinese General Hospital. Solano earlier claimed he brought Castillo to the hospital after he saw the latter’s body on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo. “John Paul Read More …