Manila court convicts 10 Aegis Juris fratmen for hazing death of law student Atio Castillo | ABS-CBN
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Manila court convicts 10 Aegis Juris fratmen for hazing death of law student Atio Castillo
Manila court convicts 10 Aegis Juris fratmen for hazing death of law student Atio Castillo
Members of the Aegis Juris fraternity implicated in the death of UST College of Law freshman Atio Castillo are presented to the media by the National Bureau of Investigation on March 23, 2018. ABS-CBN News/File
Members of the Aegis Juris fraternity implicated in the death of UST College of Law freshman Atio Castillo are presented to the media by the National Bureau of Investigation on March 23, 2018. ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA (UPDATED) — A Manila court has convicted 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity over the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo III in 2017.
MANILA (UPDATED) — A Manila court has convicted 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity over the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo III in 2017.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Acting Presiding Judge Shirley Magsipoc-Pagalilauan also sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, or at least 30 years in prison.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Acting Presiding Judge Shirley Magsipoc-Pagalilauan also sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, or at least 30 years in prison.
The 10 charged and convicted over Castillo's death were fraternity head Arvin Balag and members Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, and Marcelino Bagtang, Jr.
The 10 charged and convicted over Castillo's death were fraternity head Arvin Balag and members Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, and Marcelino Bagtang, Jr.
The 10 had sought the dismissal of the case in 2022, citing supposed lack of evidence, but the court threw out their demurrers to evidence for lack of merit.
The 10 had sought the dismissal of the case in 2022, citing supposed lack of evidence, but the court threw out their demurrers to evidence for lack of merit.
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The court gave weight to the statements made by Mark Ventura, an Aegis Juris member who turned state witness.
The court gave weight to the statements made by Mark Ventura, an Aegis Juris member who turned state witness.
"In this case, the act of hazing and the participation of the ten accused in the hazing were duly proven not only thru prima facie evidence of their presence but also by direct evidence through the categorical statement Ventura, a hazing participant turned state witness," the court said in the decision.
"In this case, the act of hazing and the participation of the ten accused in the hazing were duly proven not only thru prima facie evidence of their presence but also by direct evidence through the categorical statement Ventura, a hazing participant turned state witness," the court said in the decision.
The court also noted the testimonies of Chinese General Hospital doctor and nurse Clarisse Cledera and Mark Anthony Chua, as well as police officer Jorlan Taluban and Atio’s mother Carmina Castillo.
The court also noted the testimonies of Chinese General Hospital doctor and nurse Clarisse Cledera and Mark Anthony Chua, as well as police officer Jorlan Taluban and Atio’s mother Carmina Castillo.
The court said their testimonies were consistent with the claim of Ventura that Atio was punched on his arms.
The court said their testimonies were consistent with the claim of Ventura that Atio was punched on his arms.
The witnesses had also observed the presence of hematoma and abrasions on both arms of Atio.
The witnesses had also observed the presence of hematoma and abrasions on both arms of Atio.
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Photographs of Atio while lying in the hospital with injuries on both his arms were also submitted to the court.
Photographs of Atio while lying in the hospital with injuries on both his arms were also submitted to the court.
"The foregoing pieces of evidence are all consistent with the claim of the prosecution that Atio was a victim of hazing," the court said.
"The foregoing pieces of evidence are all consistent with the claim of the prosecution that Atio was a victim of hazing," the court said.
The court also ordered the accused to pay the heirs of Castillo jointly and severally the amount of P461,800 as actual expenses, P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages, and P75,000 as exemplary damages.
The court also ordered the accused to pay the heirs of Castillo jointly and severally the amount of P461,800 as actual expenses, P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages, and P75,000 as exemplary damages.
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