UST, UST dean Divina, several Aegis Juris fraternity members are to blame for what happened to Castillo, panel says
By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
A Senate panel on Wednesday moved to amend the Anti-Hazing Law to ban hazing or any type of initiation rite in any organization.
This was following the release of Senate committee report 232 that found that the dean of the University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Nilo Divina; members of the Aegis Juris fraternity, and UST were to blame for what happened to hazing victim Horacio Castillo III.
Sixteen senators signed the report of the joint committees on public order and dangerous drugs, and on justice, which held hearings to determine whether there was a need to amend the Anti-Hazing Law after Castillo’s death in September 2017.
“We find it necessary to also penalize persons who had knowledge of any hazing acts committed but failed to report it to the authorities or those to be found guilty of hiding, concealing or hampering or
obstructing lawful investigation by the authorities,” Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the joint panel, added in a privilege speech.
According to the report, Divina should step down as he failed to report Castillo’s death to authorities even if there was already existing information about this.
The report said Divina also lied when he said he no longer had links to the Aegis Juris fraternity–which conducted the hazing rites which resulted in Castillo’s death—when he assumed the post of dean in 2009.
In fact, the report said the committee was able to secure pictures showing Divina attending the anniversary and other events of the fraternity.
Apart from this, the report said Divina allowed six out of 10 suspects in the death of Castillo to enroll even if they failed to meet the required minimum academic standards.
Aegis Juris frat members
The report said several other members of the Aegis Juris fraternity who were not present during the hazing rites but participated in the attempt to cover up should also be held to task.
It said apart from Divina, Atty. Marvi Abo, Atty. Alston Kevin Anarna, Atty. Edzel Bert Canlas, Atty. Cecillo Jimeno, Atty. Ferdinand Rogelio, Atty. Eric Fuentes, Atty. Cesar Ocampo Ona, Atty. Gaile Dante Acuzar Caraan, Atty. Henry Pablo Jr., Atty. Jet Dela Pena Villaroman, Atty. Cesar Dela Fuente, Atty. Nino Kjell Servañez, Atty. Manuel Angelo Ventura III, Atty. Michael Vito, Atty. Arthur Capili, Atty. Irvin Joseph Fabella, Atty. Edwin Uy and Atty. Allan Christopher Agati should face disbarment proceedings.
Lacson noted that hazing was already a practice of the Aegis Juris fraternity.
“No less than three members of the fraternity, namely, John Paul Solano, Jason Adolfo Robiños and Marc Anthony Ventura, who joined the fraternity on different academic years, testified under oath that they were mentally tortured, slapped, punched and paddled as conditions precedent to becoming members of the said fraternity,” he said.
UST
Lacson also said that UST “failed to exercise due diligence in ensuring the implementation of the Anti-Hazing Law.”
He said that based on the testimony of the university’s representative, “the university’s denial as to the ongoing hazing practices of the fraternity was based solely on a signed document titled “Commitment to Anti-Hazing Law” which the university requires from every fraternity and sorority requesting to be acknowledged.”
“Mr. President, hazing needs to stop now. Awareness must be raised as to the fact that there is no unity, no brotherhood, no strength, no honor, no dignity and no respect in hazing. Hazing is merely violence
and abuse,” Lacson said.