MANILA, Philippines — A Manila City court has found 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity guilty of hazing in connection with the death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017.
After a seven-year trial, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11 Judge Shirley Magsipoc-Pagalilauan handed down the verdict on Tuesday, convicting Arvin Balag, 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. All were found guilty of violating Republic Act 8049, the Anti-Hazing Law, following the brutal death of Castillo at a fraternity “welcome party” on September 17, 2017.
The 22-year-old law student died from severe injuries sustained during the initiation rites. Anthony Ventura, a member of Aegis Juris, testified as a state witness, providing crucial evidence against his fellow fraternity members.
The case has drawn widespread attention, becoming a pivotal moment in the fight against hazing in the Philippines.
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