Atio’s parents accuse UST Law Dean, 18 others at DOJ over son’s death
Parents of slain UST law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III — Carmina and Horacio Jr. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
The parents of University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III filed on Monday a supplemental complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina and 18 others as among the accused in the case over the death of their son.
Atty. Lino Kapunan, one of the counsels of Atio’s parents – Horacio Jr. and Carmina – said they found a text message showing that Divina knew that Atio would undergo the initiation rites.
“Meron kaming nakitang text message na ang sabi ni Atio na nandoon sa law office sa may Petron sa may Buendia (We saw a text message from Atio that he was at the law office located near Petron Buendia),” he told reporters.
“Ang pinakasikat na law office doon ay Divina Law sa Pacific Star. So, it seems na malamang Divina law pinuntahan niya. Ibig sabihin alam ng mga brods nila sa Divina law na may neophyte (The only popular law office there is the Divina Law office. So it he went to Divina Law. This means members of the fraternity knew there was a neophyte),” Kapunan added.
Aside from Divina, among those facing complaint for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and murder are:
- UST Law faculty Secretary Arthur B. Capili, who is also a senior member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity like Divina
- Trustees of the Aegis Foundation namely William S. Merginie, Cezar N. Tirol, Oscar T. Ce, Alexander J. Flores, Alvin S. Dysangco, Emmanuel Y. Velasco, Henry C. Pablo, Gabrial T. Robeniol, Michael Joseph G. Fernandez, Allan Christopher S. Agati, Paulino L. Yusi, Arnel Bernardo and Edwin C. Uy
- Active members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity namely Nathan Anarna, Lennert Bryan Galicia, Jose Miguel Salamat, Ranie Santiago, Karl Matthew Villanueva, Marcelino Bagtang and Chuck Siazar. Santiago, Villanueva, Salamat and Bagtang are already included in the previous similar complaint filed by the Manila Police District (MPD)
- Vicente Garcia, the owner of the building where the victim’s alleged hazing took place
Sought for his side on the matter, Divina dismissed as “baseless” this supplemental complaint by Atio’s parents.
“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 in a text message.
He said he will comment in detail once he receives a copy of the complaint.
Apart from murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, a complaint for Perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, and Obstruction of Justice has likewise been filed before the DOJ.
During the second preliminary investigation on the first complaint filed against members of the fraternity, Atty. Paterno Esmaquel informed the panel of prosecutors that he sought from a Manila court the exclusion from evidence the items taken by the MPD at the Aegis Juris library where the alleged hazing occurred.
“We filed the omnibus motion to quash and exclude evidence obtained in the search and seizure because the search warrant was issued on the basis of a non-existing offense,” Esmaquel explained to reporters.
“It was issued on the basis of section 28 of the Anti-Hazing law but there is no section 28 of the Anti-Hazing Law. The Anti-Lazing Law is only limited to Section 7,” the lawyer noted.
Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva, head of the three-man panel gave respondents until October 24 to submit their counter-affidavit or response to the complaint filed by the MPD, and until October 30 to submit their response to the supplemental complaint filed by Atio’s parents. /kga
