Thomasians hold prayer vigil, seek justice for slain law freshman

THOMASIANS gathered in a prayer vigil last Sept. 18 at the UST Civil Law lobby to mourn and call for justice for the UST law freshman who was killed in fraternity hazing rites.

Jonathan Santos, president of Civil Law Student Council, said criminal charges must be imposed upon those involved in Horacio Castillo III’s death.

“Criminal charges na ang susunod. Criminal charges na ang dapat. Kasi ang mangyayari lang sa kanila dito, ultimately expulsion. But then hindi kasi namin madetermine if those who are involved in the alleged hazing, students pa rin dito kasi as far as I know, sumasama kasi yung mga alumni doon,” Santos said.

The former president of the Political Science Forum Juancho Martinez urged the Thomasians to speak up and tell the truth about the incident.

“If you know something, please speak up or at least do not be silent about this issue because we have always been silent [here] in UST,” Martinez said in his speech during the candle-lighting ceremony.

“This should be an eye-opener for us. Maraming nangyayaring ganitong klase ng violence [at] maraming tao dyan hindi nabibigyan ng hustisya,” Martinez said.

Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina called for the fraternity members to “fully cooperate with the investigation” and to make themselves “available for conference/interviews by the concerned committee/authorities” in a memorandum dated Sept. 20.

Divina placed the members of Aegis Juris, a UST law fraternity, under a “preventive suspension” after the incident. The suspension was later lifted to make investigation easier for the police.

Castillo III, 22, was found lying covered by a blanket on a sidewalk in Tondo, Manila. He was brought to the Chinese General Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival on Sept.17, according to the Manila Police District.