2 more fratmen seek dismissal of hazing raps

MANILA, Philippines — Two more members of the Aegis Juris fraternity yesterday denied criminal liability in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas  (UST) law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III on Sept. 17.

Alex Bose and Nathan Anarna appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and submitted their counter-affidavits on the charges of murder, hazing and obstruction of justice.

Bose and Anarna sought the dismissal of the complaints filed by the Manila Police District and Castillo’s parents, Horacio II and Carmina, for lack of probable cause.

“I did not participate in the planning, initiation rites, coverup, meetings, chat messages, robbery and other purported criminal activities,” Bose said in his 26-page answer.

“I was not at the place of incident during the alleged hazing of Atio, specifically when he was allegedly paddled, which led to his death,” Bose stressed.

Anarna also claimed that he was not around when the hazing took place.

“I did not and cannot inflict any physical harm on Atio as I was nowhere near UST from Sept. 11 to 17. Specifically, on the night the alleged crime was committed until the next morning, I was in our house in Silang, Cavite,” he said.

Fraternity leader Arvin Balag, master initiator Axel Hipe and other respondents, including John Paul Solano and Ralph Trangia, have submitted their respective answers to the DOJ investigating panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva.

They claimed that Castillo did not die from hazing injuries but rather due to his pre-existing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy condition.

Balag went as far as saying there was no proof showing that Castillo underwent hazing in the frat library.

Another respondent, Marc Anthony Ventura, has turned state witness and submitted a tell-all affidavit to the DOJ tagging 23 of his frat brothers in the hazing.

Bose argued that Ventura’s statement should not be given weight as it was not submitted to the panel and therefore should be considered as “double hearsay.”

“Ventura’s extrajudicial confession is inadmissible as evidence on the basis of the law doctrine, which holds that a contract cannot adversely affect the rights of one who is not a party to the contract,” he said.

UST law dean Nilo Divina, who says he is a frat member on leave, also denied any liability in Castillo’s death. 

He argued that he could not be held liable as an accomplice because he was not aware of the hazing and only learned of Castillo’s death after the initiation rites.

The rest of the 42 respondents were given until today to submit their counter-affidavits.

The DOJ set the next hearing on Nov. 9.