All 10 suspects in the death of a law student of the University of Santo Tomas surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday after an arrest warrant was released by a court the previous day.
The 10 were members of the Aegis Juris fraternity and were either lawyers or law students.
Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Axel Munro Hipe, Marcelino Bagtang, Jose Miguel Salamat, and Robin Ramos were deemed the most active participants among those present during the hazing of Horacio Castillo III in September 2017.
Investigations revealed Castillo had hematoma or bruises on both arms, as well as candle drips all over his body.
Initially the suspects tried to claim that Castillo had been suffering from a heart condition and it was this, not any injuries sustained during the hazing rites, that was responsible for his death. In Senate hearings the suspects also barely gave out any information.
It was the testimony of yet another fraternity member who had turned state witness that shed light on what really happened during the “welcome party.”
The arrest of the 10 suspects should not by any means put the issue to rest. A swift trial should ensue if there is to be any justice for Castillo’s senseless killing.
These young men, however, are from families of means who will no doubt employ tactics to snag the easiest arrangements for their “promising” sons.
Indeed these suspects used to have bright futures ahead of them, had they not failed in their judgment. Alas, their lapse resulted in the death of a human being, one who simply wanted to be their “brother.” Their unenlightened response is to keep mum about what happened and protect an organization that has a perverse sense of camaraderie.
It is a tragedy that those who themselves studied the law and vowed to use it for the common good are the first ones to twist it to their advantage.
