(Eagle News) — The Department of Justice has found probable cause to indict 11 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity for their alleged involvement in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III last year.
Based on the March 6 resolution approved by Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr., to be charged for violation of the anti-hazing law are 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.
Also to be indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice was John Paul Solano, who told the police he merely found Castillo’s body on a street in Manila.
All the criminal charges filed against Jason Adolfo Robinos, Aeron Salientes, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Zimon Padro, Alex Bose, Leo Lalusis, Lennert Galicia, Nathan Anarna, Chuck Siazar, Karl Matthew Villanueva, and the Aegis Juris Foundation, represented by trustees William Merginio, Cezar Tirol, Oscar Co, Alexander Flores, Alvin Dysangco, Henry Pablo, Gabriel Robeniol, Michael Joseph Fernandez, Allan Christopher Agati, Paulino Yusi, Arthur Capili, Arnel Bernardo, Edwin Uy and Nilo Divina were on the other hand dismissed for “lack of probable cause.”
The charges against Divina and Capili “in their capacities as dean and faculty secretary of the (UST)-Faculty of Civil Law” were dismissed for “insufficiency of evidence,” and also those against Marc Ventura by virtue of his admission to the Witness Protection Program.
The DOJ, in the meantime, recommended that “further investigation be conducted” by the Manila Police District to determine what roles Zach Abulencia, Daniel Ragos, Dave Felix, Sam Cagalingan, Alex Cairo, Luis Capulong, Kim Cyrill Roque, Ged Villanueva, Edric Pilapil and RR Magbuhos played in the “crimes charged.”
Authorities said Castillo died due to trauma caused by severe injuries sustained from hazing rites in September 2017.
Eight UST students have since been expelled.
The incident also prompted authorities to revisit the existing Anti-Hazing Law, which merely regulates hazing.
