Tag: Hazing

Bicam approves bill seeking harsher penalties for hazing

(Eagle News) — The bicameral committee of Congress has reconciled the Senate and House of Representatives versions of an amended anti-hazing law. Senator Panfilo Lacson said that under the reconciled version of  Senate Bill 1662 and House Bill 6573, stricter penalties were imposed for hazing. Officials of a group that resorts to hazing are also made liable under the reconciled version even if they are not present during the rites. “Tinaasan ang lahat na penalties […]

UST expels eight civil law students over hazing victim Castillo’s death

(Eagle News)– The University of Sto. Tomas has ordered the expulsion of eight civil law students for their alleged roles in the death of UST law freshman Horacio Castillo III in September last year. In a university statement published in The Varsitarian, UST said the expulsion took place after the committee tasked to investigate his death found them guilty of violating the Code of Conduct and Discipline..” The committee formed on Sept. 19, 2017 was composed […]

UST Civil Law dean Divina: “My conscience is clear”

(Eagle News) — “My conscience is clear.” University of Santo Tomas Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina had this to say on Wednesday after a Senate joint committee report said disbarment proceedings should be initiated against him over the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III. “I did not do anything wrong, illegal or unethical,” Divina–who, according to the report should also resign–said in a statement. According to Divina, he “did all (he) could have done under […]

Senate panel moves to ban hazing following Castillo’s death

UST, UST dean Divina, several Aegis Juris fraternity members are to blame for what happened to Castillo, panel says By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service A Senate panel on Wednesday moved to amend the Anti-Hazing Law to ban hazing or any type of initiation rite in any organization. This was following the release of Senate committee report 232 that found that the dean of the University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Nilo Divina; […]

UPDATED: Bill seeking to ban hazing approved on final reading in House

(Eagle News)– The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third reading a bill that prohibits hazing and regulates other forms of initiations in fraternities and sororities. Voting 210-0, lawmakers in the Lower House approved on final reading House Bill 6573 that  aims to impose a total ban on all forms of hazing during initiation rites, and repeal the existing Anti-Hazing Law, or Republic Act 88049, that merely regulates the act. The bill allows initiation […]

DOJ reopens Castillo case to allow for admission of suspect-turned-witness’ statement

(Eagle News) — The Department of Justice said it has reopened the investigation into the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III to allow for the formal admission of the sworn statement of Aegis Juris member Marc Ventura. The DOJ said the statement of Ventura–who has been admitted to the Witness Protection Program—was received only on January 3. Last year, the case was submitted for resolution. “We can’t resolve the case if the evidence is […]

Senate releases Aegis Juris frat leader Arvin Balag

  (Eagle News) — The Senate released Aegis Juris fraternity leader Arvin Balag from the senate premises on Thursday night, December 21, more than two months after he was first detained there on October 18, This was confirmed by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia. He said Balag first underwent medical check-up as part of standard operating procedure before release. Three lawyers accompanied him. Balajadia said that he had already informed Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III […]

Senate bill aims to penalize institutions and schools that will cover up hazing

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Institutions and schools that will cover up and protect perpetrators of hazing will be penalized if a new bill is passed. Under Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s   Senate Bill 199, schools found to be guilty of this offense will be slapped a fine of Php 1 million. “We can see that the fraternity is trying to conceal and cover up what happened. So, we also have to put it in the […]

Aegis Juris frat leader Balag files counter-affidavit; says there is no proof Castillo underwent hazing

(Eagle News) — Aegis Juris fraternity leader Arvin Balag has asked the Department of Justice to dismiss the charges in connection with the death of Horacio Castillo III filed against him, arguing that there was no proof the University of Sto. Tomas law freshman was subjected to hazing in the first place. In his counter-affidavit filed before the DOJ on Monday, Balag said he “could not in any way be held liable for violation of Republic […]

UST dean Divina files counter-affidavit; denies taking part in “cover-up,” having prior knowledge of Castillo hazing rites

(Eagle News) — University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina on Monday denied he had prior knowledge of the hazing rites which led to the death of Horacio Castillo III, and that he had anything to do with the alleged coverup of the UST student’s death. In his counteraffidavit submitted on Monday to the Department of Justice, Divina said he did not call Castillo’s parents on Sept. 17, the day the […]

Senator Lacson says Solano wasted chance to become state witness

(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday expressed regret that John Paul Solano wasted the opportunity to become a state witness in the hazing death of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III Lacson, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order said that, Solano, being the least guilty,  could have qualified as state witness. But Lacson noted that Solano, a former medical technology student of UST, instead chose to cover […]

Immigration lookout order issued vs UST law dean, others over Castillo hazing death

(Eagle News) — The Department of Justice on Thursday issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against other individuals who were mentioned in the Oct. 18 Senate hearing on the hazing death of Horacio Castillo III, including University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina. Apart from Divina, included in the ILBO were Alex Bose, Alex Cairo, Alexander J. Flores, Allan Chrisopher S. Agati, Alvin S. Dysangco, Arnel A. Bernardo, Arthur B. Capili, […]