Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed the guilty verdict rendered by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11 against 10 Aegis Juris fraternity members responsible for the death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017.
“Fraternities are created by brotherhood, friendship, and mutual support where violence never had a place to begin with. To our younger generations, foster real friendships which will empower and give you a better future, not those which cause pain and suffering,” Remulla said.
He thanked Atio’s family for placing their trust and confidence in the agency and the Philippine justice system.
The DOJ recognized the conviction as the biggest court victory against fraternity hazing since the passage of Republic Act 11053, the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018. This law paved the way for the revision of Republic Act 8049, the first anti-hazing legislation enacted in 1995.
Remulla likewise hailed Deputy State Prosecutor (DSP) Olivia L. Torrevillas, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor (SASP) Wendell Bendoval, Senior Asst. City Prosecutor (SACP) Susan Villanueva, Assistant State Prosecutor (ASP) Claire Eufracia Pagayanan (now judge), ASP Honey Rose Delgado, and Prosecution Attorney (PA) Criselda Teoxon-Yanga for successfully prosecuting the case that led to the conviction of the accused.
“Let this conviction be a warning to those who engage in fraternity hazing, you can never evade the law,” Remulla said.
The Manila court sentenced all accused to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua ranging from 20 to 40-year imprisonment, aside from the indemnification of Atio’s family.
