Hazing victim's pa: Aegis Juris treated my son like an animal

MANILA, Philippines — The father of the 22-year-old freshman law student of the University of Santo Tomas killed during hazing rites said the fraternity who recruited his son treated him "like an animal" and called on the administrators of the school to ensure a partial and thorough probe into the incident.

 

Horacio Castillo Jr. said that they were informed of his son and namesake's death only on September 18, a day after his unconscious body was brought to the Chinese General Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival.

 

"We will forever be tormented by the thought that the Aegis Juris Fraternity invited him to their organization only to treat him like an animal," Castillo Jr. said in his opening statement in a joint hearing of several Senate committees on the death of his son.

 

Castillo Jr. said that his family would like to know every detail of what happened on the night his son was killed to show him that he was not alone even in death.

 

He said that just like any other parents he and his wife lived their lives for their children, tried to shield them from harm, protected them from unkindness and sheltered them from injustice.

 

Castillo Jr. also challenged the administrators of the University of Santo Tomas and its Faculty of Civil Law, particularly Dean Nilo Divina, who is a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, to ensure a thorough investigation into his son's killing.

 

Divina should demonstrate "heroic leadership and impartiality" regardless of his ties to the fraternity, according to Castillo Jr., adding that some students who possessed valuable information were afraid to come out due to the perceived influence of the fraternity.

 

He also warned members of the fraternity involved in the deadly welcome rites that they would not rest and leave any stone unturned until justice is served.

 

"We will not rest and we will not stop and we will leave no stones unturned and resources untapped until everyone in these hazing rights is brought to justice," he said.

 

He added: "Only the Almighty God can judge you, but your actions now whether of cowardice or courage will forever define you as a person and your fraternity as an institution."

 

He also appealed to the classmates of his late son to come forward and share more information about his death, saying that the whole country is behind them.

 

His family hoped that through the Senate hearing the country's Anti-Hazing Law would be strengthened as he noted that despite its enactment many young men and women continued to be victimized while the perpetrators remained scot-free.

 

"It would have made him very happy knowing that his life's purpose was to ensure that hazing would never happen ever again," he said.

 

READ: Anti-hazing law: 22 years, 1 conviction

 

The hazing victim's father said that it pained them to think that their son's dreams of becoming a lawyer, senator and justice of the Supreme Court were abruptly ended by what he called "senseless and barbaric acts."

 

Horacio Castillo III's body was first reported to have been found sprawled on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo and brought to the Chinese General Hospital by John Paul Solano, now the primary suspect in the law student's death.

 

However, CCTV footage from the local village did not show any body being dumped in the said location.

 

Solano told the Senate investigation that members of the fraternity told him to lie about the circumstances surrounding Castillo III's death.