Horacio Tomas “Atio” Castillo III, a freshman law student of the University of Santo Tomas, died on September 17, from injuries sustained in Aegis Juris Fraternity hazing initiation rites.
Medical Technologist John Paul Sarte Solano said that he found Horacio Castillo’s body lying on a pavement in the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Balut, Tondo, Manila. Solano signals vehicles passing by the area to bring Horacio to the hospital until a red Strada stopped to help him out. It was later discovered that John Paul Solano is also a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. Horacio was declared dead on arrival at 9:21 am at the Chinese General Hospital. An autopsy conducted by the Manila Police District on Monday, September 18, said that the victim died of a massive heart attack.
The dean of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law has suspended all officers and members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity following the death of its neophyte in hazing rites. The UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean said that the members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity “would not be allowed to enter the campus of the Faculty of Civil Law, or attend classes until further notice.”
On Twitter, #JusticeforHoracio trended in the Philippines throughout Monday. On Facebook, Horacio’s friends created a Facebook page named “Hustisya Para Kay Horacio” (Justice For Horacio), where people can share pieces of information that can be crucial to discovering the freshman’s death.
Screenshots of the alleged group conversation of seven Aegis Juris Fraternity members were posted on the Facebook page “Hustisya Para Kay Horacio”, which could provide clues to what happened on the night Horacio Tomas Castillo III was killed by hazing.
The exchanges provide specifics about the hazing rites:
- Fraternity members knew that they were doing something dangerous and prohibited
- There was intent to cover up the incident
- The lone neophyte they initiated could have died at their hands
Sixteen members of the fraternity were put on the immigration lookout on Wednesday, September 20. Four more were added on Friday, September 22.
“The names in the Order were provided to Undersecretary Erickson Balmes of the Department Of Justice by police investigators who were investigating the incident last night,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a statement on Wednesday.
The names on the lookout list are:
- Arvin Balag
- Mhin Wei Chan
- Marc Anthony Ventura
- Axel Munro Hipe
- Oliver John Audrey Onofre
- Joshua Joriel Macabali
- Jason Adolfo Robiños
- Ralph Trangia
- Ranie Rafael Santiago
- Danielle Hans Mattew Rodrigo
- Carl Mattew Villanueva
- Aeron Salientes
- Marcelino Bagtang
- Zimon Padro
- Jose Miguel Salamat
- John Paul Solano
- Ged Villanueva
- Milfren Alvarado
- Daniel Ragos
- Dave Felix
According to the Bureau of Immigration, one of the suspects in the death of Horacio has already left the country.
Bureau of Immigration records shows Ralph Caballes Trangia left the country on Eva Air Flight BR262 to Taipei, Taiwan last Tuesday, Sept. 19. A day before Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered immigration personnel to be on the lookout for Trangia and 15 other members of the Aegis Juris fraternity linked to Castillo’s death
The case for Horacio Castillo III’s death is still on-going. While the people responsible for the death of Horacio Castillo III are still free, justice has not been served. #JusticeForHoracio
