UST faculty did not fail to protect Atio – Dean

MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law and its officials did not fail to protect hazing death victim UST law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017, the school’s dean said yesterday.

Dean Nilo Divina was reacting to the statement made by Castillo’s mother Carmina that the UST and the Faculty of Civil Law failed in their duty to protect her son.

Divina said that the UST and the Faculty of Civil Law have implemented policies that promote the safety and welfare of all students.

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

Immediately after the guilty verdict was handed down on 10 members of Aegis Juris sentencing them to life imprisonment on Tuesday, Mrs. Castillo said it was a long and painful wait for them and Atio’s loved ones, but in the end they found closure, even as some questions remained unanswered.

Castillo’s parents Carmina and Horacio urged the Supreme Court to act on a pending case of disbarment filed by the Senate against members of the Aegis Juris suspected of having attempted to cover up the circumstances behind Atio’s death.