Unbelievable

I could only shake my head as I was listening to the supposed conversation of Aegis Juris fraternity members on social media when Horacio Castillo III died due to injuries suffered from a brutal hazing. The Senate held another hearing on the incident last Wednesday. The alleged chat of former and current members of the said fraternity was read out loud at the Senate. Several suggestions and courses of action were made, all to prevent members of the fraternity from being charged with the crime. A suggestion was made to get in touch with Castillo’s family, I suppose to offer a settlement in order to “keep them quiet”. Someone stated that since Castilllo’s family was well-off, they could easily get a search warrant for the fraternity library so “hopefully the place has been cleaned up and the paddles removed.” “For me, denial. Never give a hint” was the suggestion of yet another member. It should be noted that most of the people in the chat are lawyers. One even supposedly works at the Supreme Court. Unbelievable.

Doesn’t this exchange indicate a cover up of the crime? To keep the family quiet before they contact the media? To clean up the place where the crime occurred? To deny everything? What parent would want to keep quiet about the death, even murder of their child? The fraternity initially stated they would cooperate with authorities. Does this look like cooperating in the investigation? Because lawyers are sworn to uphold the law, aren’t they accountable for these statements? What exactly does obstruction of justice mean?

So much evidence is already in the hands of authorities, but has anyone been arrested or charged? Have cases been filed against the suspects, if such evidence is already in their possession? The government even met Ralph Trangia at the airport upon his return, offering him protection. Trangia left the country a day after news of the incident broke out, and yet he’s the one being offered protection? Are the “big brothers” working overtime to keep their brothers out of trouble? Some members did not even want to give DNA samples. What does that tell you?

The Senate cited Arvin Balag, the president of Aegis Juris, for contempt for refusing to answer simple questions. He was asked if he is indeed the president of the fraternity. He invoked his right against self-incrimination several times. Here we have the president of the fraternity, refusing to stand up and be identified as the president of the said fraternity.

Need I say more? We can now expect this case to be drawn out, as is usually the case where neophytes were killed in the course if hazing rituals. It is obvious that the alumni of Aegis Juris are already working to keep their frat brods from owning up to and paying for their crime. Let’s be clear about that. What they did was criminal, and not an “accident” as another lawyer alumni suggested.