NBI ordered to probe alleged UST hazing death

September 19, 2017 - 11:23 AM
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File photo of UST law student Horacio Tomas Castillo III from his Facebook account

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has been ordered by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to investigate the death of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III, who is suspected to have died from hazing during initiation rites of a fraternity.

Tuesday morning, the remains of Castillo were transferred from the Heritage Park in Taguig to the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park

Castillo, 21, was reportedly found late Saturday night dumped on a street in Tondo by a motorist who rushed him to the Chinese General Hospital where he was declared dead.

Aguirre ordered NBI Director Dante Gierran to “conduct investigation and case build-up over the death of UST law student Horacio Castillo III, who died in suspected frat hazing, and if evidence so warrants, to file appropriate charges thereon.”

Castillo’s father, Horacio Jr., said the law student had joined the Aegis Juris Fraternity.

Facing media at the Makati church, Castillo’s father confirmed that a “Chinese-looking” man had brought his son to the hospital.

He also referred any more questions on the case to the family’s lawyer.

In the wake of the incident, Dean Nilo Divina of the UST Faculty of Civil Law announced, “all officers and members of Aegis Juris Fraternity are preventively suspended from the UST Faculty of Law effective September 18, 2017,” even as UST itself embarked on an official investigation.

READ JUSTICE SEC. AGUIRRE’S ORDER: