SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Friday said that based on the evidence gathered and presented in the Senate, the Department of Justice panel might have overlooked or disregarded the coverup angle in the fatal hazing of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in September last year.
He expressed dismay over the decision of the DoJ to indict only 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity and to dismiss the charges against the 12 others linked to the hazing of Castillo.
Castillo, a freshman law student, succumbed to “severe blunt traumatic injuries” after attending the “welcoming rites” of the Aegis Juris fraternity September last year.
Lacson noted that the pieces of evidence in the killing like the authenticated contents of the group chat participated in by clearly identified members and officers, the video footages and other documents should have been enough for the DoJ to find probable cause to also charge them for being accessories after the fact at the very least.
After the conduct of public hearings, the Senate public order committee, chaired by Lacson, has also asked the Supreme Court to immediately initiate disciplinary action or even disbarment against University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo Divina and other alumni of the Aegis Juris Fraternity due to Castillo’s death.
His report described as “grossly immoral conduct” and are “against the decency expected from lawyers and a mockery of the legal profession” the actions committed by the members.
Lacson has asked the Supreme Court to immediately initiate disciplinary action or even disbarment against University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo Divina and other alumni of the Aegis Juris Fraternity due to the death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III during a fatal hazing in Septembrr last year.
Divina was also urged to reisgn from his position as the dean of the UST Faculty of Civil Law.
But the DoJ dismissed the charges against Divina and law faculty secretary Arthur Capili for insufficiency of evidence.
The committee has also recommended that the following members working in government be penalized administratively by their respective agencies for violating their duty to respect the rights of others and refrain from doing against contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, and public interest: Gaile Dante Careen, Development Bank of the Philippines; Henry Pablo Jr.., Civil Service Commission, and Ronald Cheng, Supreme Court.
In a 49-page resolution dated March 6, the DoJ said it found probable cause to indict the following for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law: Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, 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.
Charges of perjury and obstruction of justice were also filed against John Paul Solano.
Meanwhile, charges against 10 other respondents and the Aegis Juris Foundation were dismissed for lack of probable cause.