MANILA, Philippines — The Manila trial court judge handling the fatal hazing case of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III has inhibited from charges against the Aegis Juris Fraternity members.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan has inhibited from the anti-hazing charge filed against several members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity due to the accused's perception that the judge has "tilted the scales of justice against them."
Ampuan said that accused Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos and Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo's allegations do not have sufficient ground to merit inhibition from case.
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However, he said, the court "[found] it appropriate to grant the motion for inhibition considering that all the above-mentioned accused and/or their respective counsel already nurtured at the back of their minds the thought" that Ampuan is biased against them.
The three pointed out that Ampuan is the brother-in-law of Volunteers against Crime and Corruption chairman Dante Jimenez, now also chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
The VACC earlier said that they will help the Castillo family get justice for the fatal hazing of their son.
However, the presiding judge said that "a perusal of the allegations of all the three accused...reveal that the same are without bases."
He added: "It must be noted that mere imputation of bias or partiality is not enough ground for inhibition. Extrinsic evidence must be presented to establish bias, bad faith, malice or corrupt purpose, in additional to palpable error which may be inferred from the decision or order."
The records of the case will now be forward to the Clerk of Court for a re-raffle.
The ten accused are currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation pending a commitment order from the court.
READ: 10 fratmen in Horacio “Atio” Castillo III hazing surrender