A Manila court has convicted ten members of the Aegis Juris fraternity for their involvement in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017, sentencing them to life in prison.
The defendants were found guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Law and ordered to pay a total of P626,800 in damages to Castillo’s family.
Castillo’s parents expressed relief at the verdict but criticized UST for its alleged negligence in allowing hazing practices to continue.
Senators praised the ruling, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement of anti-hazing laws and accountability for universities.
They also proposed amendments to penalize schools that fail to regulate fraternities effectively, following other recent hazing-related fatalities.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 2, 2024
