Resolution on Atio case out by mid-February, says DOJ

MANILA, Philippines — The resolution on the case of fatal hazing of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III will be released mid-February, the Department of Justice said.

The three-man panel of prosecutors handling the case of Castillo, headed by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva, filed a case status update dated January 29 to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

"The prosecution panel is presently evaluating all the evidence submitted and shall endeavor to come up with  resolution by mid-February 2018," the status report read.

A copy was sent by Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes to reporters only on Wednesday.

Prosecution Attorney Wendell Bendoval and Prosecution Attorney Honey Rose Delgado join Villanueva in the panel.

On January 22, 2018, the state prosecutors deemed the case submitted for resolution after they conducted a clarificatory hearing where Aegis Juris Fraternity member and state witness Mark Ventura faced the panel to clarify his filed testimony that detailed the initiation rites of Castillo.

According to Ventura, Castillo was punched and paddled until he was black and blue with bruises by his would-be fraternity brothers.

Castillo collapsed after he was struck for the fifth time. It was only then that the members of the fraternity started to panic and attempted to revive the law freshman. It was 5 a.m.

READ: Punched until swollen then paddled: Fratman recounts Atio's fatal hazing

Members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, in their counter-affidavit, said that Castillo died due to a pre-existing heart condition and not hazing.

The case stemmed from the murder, anti-hazing, robbery and perjury complaints filed by the Manila Police District and parents of Castillo.

Castillo was a 22-year-old freshman law student of the UST. He was laid to rest on September 27 at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.