DOJ files hazing suit vs Aegis Juris fratmen over Atio death
Horacio Tomas “Atio” Castillo III. GERARDO M. CASTILLO’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed on Thursday a criminal case against 10 officers and members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity who were allegedly involved in the death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.
Based on a resolution, the DOJ filed a case against the 10 fratmen for violation of Republic Act 8049 or Anti-Hazing Law before a Manila Regional Trial Court.
Included in the charge sheet were Aegis Juris officers Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, and Axel Munro Hipe; and members Edril Pilapil, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Marcelino Bagtang, Jose Miguel Salamat and Robin Ramos.
No bail was recommended for all the accused.
Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. said they based their resolution on the testimony of Aegis Juris member Mark Ventura, who was also present during Atio’s alleged final initiation rites.
Ventura is already under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
READ: Ventura names 23 of 24 frat members at Atio’s tortuous hours
On the other hand, cases of perjury and obstruction of justice were filed against John Paul Solano, who admitted to have brought Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital after the alleged initiation rites on September 17, 2017.
Solano’s perjury case stemmed from him issuance of two different affidavits. In his first affidavit executed before the Manila Police District (MPD), Solano claimed he does not know the Aegis Juris neophyte and only found the victim along a street in Tondo, Manila before he took him to the Chinese General Hospital.
In the sworn statement he later issued, Solano said he was asked by fraternity brothers to take Castillo to the hospital after the victim collapsed during the alleged pre-dawn initiation rite at the fraternity library.
Meanwhile, the complaint against other Aegis Juris members Jason Adolfo Robinos, Aeron Salientes, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Zimon Pedro, Alex Bose, Leo Lalusis, Lennert Bryan Galicia, Nathan Anarna, Chuck Siazar and Karl Matthew Villanueva was dismissed for lack of probable cause. /kga
