Saved by strangers….
If you thought you couldn't get any angrier at the senseless killing of Horacio Castillo III, this story comes up. Twelve years ago, the Castillo home went up in flames. Ten-year-old Horacio and his father were saved by responding firemen as they were already trapped on the roof. Lords Hernandez, who was then an arson investigator, snapped a picture of Horacio being carried to safety. Twelve years on, Hernandez is heartbroken to find out that the kid they were able to save was senselessly killed by those who claim to be his brothers. Saved by strangers, killed by "brothers". What was a second chance in life ended up as an opportunity for criminals to permanently end it.
The parents of Guillo Cesar Servando know all too well what the parents of Horacio are going through. They also lost their son to a senseless hazing by members of the Tau Gamma fraternity at the College of Saint Benilde in 2014. In fact, there are so many similarities that Guillo and Horacio share. But as they offer comfort to those unwillingly drawn into a group of parents who have lost children in the same manner, it is also ominous that three years after the crime, none of those who committed the crime have been punished. They are scot-free, probably enjoying life a lot more than the parents of Guillo, who are still waiting for justice. A technicality, or in other words, crafty lawyers, was cited in the junking of the cases filed against the suspected fratmen.
It really is time to amend the Anti-Hazing Law and give it more teeth, rather fangs. Too long have those involved in the deaths of fraternity neophytes get off with a slap on the wrist, as if what happened was just an unfortunate event. A car accident is an unfortunate event. Intentionally hitting a person with a wooden paddle along with other forms of physical injury is not an unfortunate event but a crime. A heinous crime, if you ask me, and as such must be treated like one.
There are calls for Filipinos in the US, particularly Chicago, to help locate Ralph Trangia who is believed to have fled to the windy city. Trangia fled with his mother to Chicago via Taipei a day before an immigration lookout bulletin was issued by the DOJ. This only proves his guilt in the crime. His passport must be cancelled to prevent him from moving around. The idea is to make his world shrink befitting a fugitive. I wouldn't be surprised, given his past of violence with a rival fraternity, if he dealt the death blows to Horacio. Why he was even allowed to participate in the hazing given his penchant for violence just shows the irresponsibility of this false brotherhood of wannabe lawyers. I hope there are those in the US that will heed the call for Trangia to be found, and hopefully sent back to face justice.
- Latest
