Court convicts 10 in fatal UST student hazing

Metro Manila, Philippines – Ten people accused in the fatal hazing of a university student in 2017 have been found guilty of violating the law, a Manila court ruled on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Those found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the death of Horacio Castillo III are:

+ Arvin Rivera Balag

+ Mhin Wei Chan

+ Axel Munro Hipe

+ Oliver John Audrey Onofre

+ Joshua Joriel Macabali

+ Ralph Trangia

+ John Robin Ramos

+ Jose Miguel Salamat

+ Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo

+ Marcelino Bagtang Jr.

The 10 are sentenced to serve reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

They are also ordered to jointly pay P461,800 to Castillo’s heirs as actual expenses.

The convicts will also pay P75,000 in civil indemnity, P75,000 in moral damages, and another P75,000 in exemplary damages.

The amounts will earn “interest at the rate of 6% per annum upon finality of the decision until fully paid.”

“The untimely death of Atio caused pain, agony, anxiety, suffering and mental anguish to his heirs because it deprived them his company, love, support and companionship,” the court stated.

In September 2017, Aegis Juris members took turns in beating Horacio, a freshman from the University of Santo Tomas, at the fraternity library in Sampaloc, Manila.

The initiation rites began at 2 a.m., and Horacio collapsed after about three hours.

Members tried to revive Horacio to no avail. They brought him to the Chinese General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.