00:00After 7 years, 10 people were found guilty and sentenced by the Constitutional Perpetua
00:07for the murder of UST Law student Atio Castillo due to hazing.
00:12This is the news brought to you by Oscar Oida.
00:17Atio Castillo, a 22-year-old first-year law student at the University of Santo Tomas,
00:24who suddenly lost his life when he fell for the initiation rites of the fraternity, the Aegis Juris.
00:32At a funeral in Manila, Atio's parents found his son's grave full of ashes.
00:39Atio was believed to have died from repeated paddling.
00:457 years later, the verdict was released.
00:49Guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the 10 members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity
00:54were found guilty of violating Section 4-1 of the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995.
01:00They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a maximum of up to 40 years in prison.
01:07They were also fined almost half a million actual expenses,
01:11up to P7,500 in moral damages, exemplary damages, and civil indemnity.
01:18Guilty verdict is a team effort.
01:21We all placed our 100% and we got our conviction.
01:26It's a long journey, 7 years.
01:29This is how we imagined it to be, that we will bring this here.
01:37Those 7 years, I think for our son, it is worth it.
01:45Based on the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 11,
01:49and the testimonies, there are 3 elements needed to say that there is hazing.
01:54First, there is initiation right.
01:57Second, there is neophyte.
01:59And third, he went through an embarrassing or painful situation.
02:05It was proven by the court that he was present at the initiation of 10 accused.
02:10At the same time, under anti-hazing law, there is no need for actual pain.
02:15There is the same answer if there is an accused and nothing was done while the neophyte was injured.
02:23The accused also did not present any solid evidence or testimony
02:28to support the argument that they were not involved in the hazing.
02:32And even if there is a condition in Atio's heart, that's why he died in cardiac arrest,
02:37according to the court, the reason for his death was that he was in danger and his breathing became faster.
02:44This is justice for Atio and a win for the prosecution court. Thank you so much for all your support.
02:52The lawyers and relatives of the accused did not give their consent.
02:57Aside from the accused, Atio's parents also want to answer the UST.
03:04I'm holding University of Santo Tomas responsible for the death of our son.
03:09It has been proven that AGS Juris has been practicing hazing.
03:14And it's time to check your policies, the university, the civil law department, the dean himself, failed to protect our son.
03:26I think it's about time heads should roll in UST.
03:30The dean of UST Civil Law sympathizes with Atio's parents.
03:35But he did not agree with some of what they said.
03:39Atio's mother specifically said that the UST and the Faculty of Civil Law failed to protect the NUI Law student.
03:49The UST always implements measures for the safety and well-being of students.
03:57But some individuals say it doesn't matter.
04:01They ensure a safe environment and improve measures so that the tragedy won't happen again.
04:09Atio's death paved the way for the repeal of Republic Act 11053 or Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.
04:19But the violence in the so-called brotherhood seems to have no end.
04:24Based on the data of GMA Integrated News Research,
04:27less than 40 people have died from hazing from 1954 to 2024.
04:35This includes a Grade 11 student named Ren Joseph Bayan,
04:40who died of hemorrhagic shock due to bruises on his body.
04:44Based on the investigation, Ren Joseph's story,
04:48Ren Joseph's family arrived at their house in Kayinangvan,
04:51the members of TAU Gamma Phi and Bankay Nang Ihatid,
04:55his nephew from the initiation of the FRAT.
04:58The Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office is preparing a complaint.
05:04They also mentioned the six personalities involved in this.
05:08Some of them were also mentioned in the help of one of the participants in the alleged hazing.
05:14One of them was verified or identified as a neophyte who survived the hazing.
05:20The other one was called Grandmaster in the so-called fraternity.
05:28That's where our investigators are based.
05:32Maybe today or tomorrow, we can file the case in the prosecutor's office
05:37so we can give justice to the victim.
05:43As of now, the officers of the fraternity have not yet contacted the police.
05:48We just want you to give up.
05:53You can still do something to correct your mistakes.
05:56It's not too late.
05:57The members of the NBI Kabanatuan are with the victim's family.
06:02They are ready to help with the case.
06:05Ren Joseph's mother, who is from Qatar, also arrived in Burol.
06:10She works there as an OFW and was forced to go home because of what happened to her child.
06:17Justice is her only desire for her child.
06:20Oscar Oida reporting for GMA Integrated News.
06:40For more information visit www.fema.gov
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