(Eagle News) — The family of Horacio Castillo III has plans of including University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina and “other officials” of the school in the criminal complaint against those believed responsible in hazing death of the UST student.
Without naming additional names, the Castillos’ lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, told reporters they would include the names of Divina and the others in a supplemental affidavit.
She told reporters their inclusion was based on “statements from the dean itself” in a Senate hearing on Castillo’s death “that would put his credibility in question.”
She said for instance, it was not true that Castillo’s parents, Carminia and Horacio Jr., were immediately informed about their son’s death.
“It would seem that, quoting the senators, that there is an apparent cover-up,” she said.
She added that based on the Anti-Hazing Law, school authorities “including faculty members who consent to the hazing or who have actual knowledge thereof, but failed to take any action to prevent the same from occurring shall be punished as accomplices for the acts of hazing..”
No NBI probe
Also on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a stop to the NBI’s parallel investigation into the death of the hazing victim.
The President made the directive upon the request of Castillo’s parents themselves, who met with the chief executive in Malacanang.
The Castillos made the request in front of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre himself, who supervises the NBI.
With the President’s order, the Manila Police District becomes the only investigative body in the Castillo case.
Last month, Castillo, a University of Sto. Tomas law freshman, died of a heart attack due to massive trauma brought about by massive injuries believed sustained from hazing rites.
The rites, the police said, were performed by the Aegis Juris fraternity.
Of those named primary suspects by the police, only John Paul Solano surrendered to authorities.
Ralph Trangia, an official of the fraternity; and his father, Antonio Trangia, the registered owner of the vehicle that was used to take Castillo to the hospital; are at large.
Also named suspects in the death of the UST student are all other officials of the fraternity who are enrolled.
