Strong evidence vs fratmen in Atio’s hazing death

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila regional trial court (RTC) has denied bail to 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity for the hazing death of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III two years ago.

In his bail order dated Dec. 10, Manila RTC Branch 20 Presiding Judge Marivic Balisi Umali said the prosecution was able to establish that fraternity members Arvin Rivera Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Rodrigo, and Marcelino Bagtang Jr. were present during the final hazing rites that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Castillo at the fraternity library in Manila in September 2017.

Castillo’s mother Carmina yesterday told The STAR that while they laud this latest victory in the case, she and her husband still grieve for their son.

“Although we are happy, it would still not give back our son to us. Even though it has lessened the pain a little bit, it still hurts us that we cannot have our son back anymore,” Carmina said.

In his 56-page order, the judge said that according to the anti-hazing law, the suspects’ presence in the final rites without preventing the commission of the crime is proof that they are principal actors in the death due to hazing of Castillo.

Citing the testimony of the Philippine National Police medicolegal expert, the prosecution was also able to establish that Castillo’s cause of death was the blows inflicted on him by his fraternity brothers, not a heart ailment as the defense would like the court to believe, the judge said.

“The Court finds that the legal and proximate cause of the victim’s death was the physical injuries or physical suffering inflicted on him by his prospective brods. The severe and physical injuries sustained by the victim was a natural and foreseeable consequence,” the judge said.

The court relied on the eyewitness testimony of fraternity member Mark Ventura, who turned state witness against his own fraternity brothers, and forensic experts who said Castillo died from injuries due to hazing.

During his testimony in August 2018, Ventura broke down as he identified in court those who were involved in the hazing rite.

Defying the fraternity’s so-called “code of silence,” Ventura revealed in court that Hipe, Trangia, and Balag hit Castillo with a paddle during the hazing rite before Castillo collapsed.

Castillo was also made to do the duck walk, sing “Baby Shark” and strip naked in front of his brothers during the rite while enduring punches and blows with a paddle, Ventura said.

Before the hazing rite, Ventura said he was able to talk with Castillo outside the fraternity library and the latter asked him if he would die in the hazing rite.

Three wooden paddles, four wooden spatulas and six candles were used in the hazing rite, according to court records.

Police also charged fraternity member John Paul Solano for lying to authorities that he found Castillo by the roadside in Tondo, Manila before he brought him to the Chinese General Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Solano was convicted of obstruction of justice by the Manila metropolitan trial court in June last year. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva