A Manila City regional trial court has deferred the arraignment of the 10 Aegis Juris fraternity members who had been charged for their involvement in the fatal hazing of law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo III pending the resolution of an appeal filed by at least one of the accused before the Department of Justice.
The accused, clad in orange shirts marking them as detainees at the National Bureau of Investigation, appeared before the Manila City RTC, Branch 20, on Tuesday morning, but will not be formally read of the charges until July 24.
The accused immediately left the court after the court formally announcing the postponement of the arraignment.
Only accused Ralph Trangia has filed a petition for review before the Office of the Justice Secretary seeking to reverse the resolution of the investigating prosecutors who found probable cause to indict the Aegis fratmen in court for violation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995.
Castillo's parents and his sister also attended the hearing.
While the arraignment will be delayed, Atio's father, Horacio Jr., said the family was satisfied with the pace of their quest for justice.
"Everybody's here…we're very thankful to the DoJ," Atio’s father said, noting that the DoJ is “in full force for Atio.”
Atio, the 22-year-old freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, died of "severe blunt traumatic injuries" after attending the welcoming rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity in September last year.
Last March, the DoJ panel found probable cause to indict 10 fratmen for hazing, while John Paul Solano was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the fatal hazing case.
Aside from Trangia, also facing charges at the Manila City court are Arvin Balag, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Axel Munrio Hipe, Marcelino Bagtang, Jose Miguel Salamat, and Robin Ramos.