UST

Sen. Bam urges fraternity to aid police investigation, not allow suspects to flee

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the Aegis Juris fraternity, especially John Paul Solano, to name names and cooperate in the police investigation on the death of first-year University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III.

“Makukuha ang hustisya kung maibibigay niyo ang impormasyon as soon as possible. The sooner that you’re able to provide this, the sooner the PNP can find the suspects, the sooner the Castillos will find justice,” Sen. Bam told the fraternity during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order on Castillo’s death.

Sen. Bam urged Solano and his lawyer to give the names of the people who accompanied him when he brought Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital so the PNP can pursue them. The son of the owner of one of the vehicles has already fled the country

“Habang nagtatagal tayo, habang iniimbestigahan pa ng PNP ang mga numero ng alumni. We’re hoping that you can provide the information as soon as you can para makuha na ng mga Castillo ang hinihingi nilang hustisya at makulong ang mga sangkot dito,” said Sen. Bam.

It was also learned that members of the Aegis Juris officials learned of Castillo’s death even before his parents, Sen. Bam urged the fraternity to provide names. “If the alumni truly want to cooperate, they should be willing to tell us kung saan nanggaling ang mga impormasyon na iyan so the PNP can trace it back,” said Sen. Bam.

During the hearing, Castillo’s parents told Sen. Bam that he first learned of his son’s death only on Monday morning. Nilo Divina, dean of the UST Faculty of Civil Law, informed the senator that he found out about the death Sunday afternoon.

According to Divina, he received a call from the faculty secretary, lawyer Arthur Capili, on Sunday afternoon about an unconfirmed report on the death of a neophyte member of the fraternity. Divina said he received another call from Capili around 6 p.m., confirming Castillo’s death.

Capili, for his part, said he received the call from a person, whose name he revealed to the PNP following Sen. Bam’s prodding.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam expects all senators to come in unison in amending and improving the Anti-Hazing Law, saying that these senseless and needless deaths should be stopped and no other young life should be wasted on the barbaric, cruel and heartless practice of hazing.

Sen. Bam: From streets to fraternities, culture of violence must end

Sen. Bam Aquino condemned the death of a freshman law student due to hazing and stressed that we must put an end to the culture of violence in the Philippines.

 “We condemn in the strongest possible term, the unecessary death a promising 22-year-old student due to hazing. There should be no place in our society for violence and cruelty,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Horacio Tomas Topacio Castillo III, who was found dead in a sidewalk in Manila.

 The senator called on authorities to investigate the matter and put those behind this heinous crime behind bars so justice may be served to the family of the victim.

 “Hindi kalupitan ang nagpapalakas sa kapatiran. Mas marami pang paraan para mapalago natin ang samahan nang hindi idinadaan sa pananakit at pagpatay,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam stressed the need for the strong and effective implementation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law to instill fear in fraternities and prevent them from crossing the line.

Passed in 1995, Republic Act No. 8049 criminalizes hazing and imposing penalties on persons who inflict injuries or cause death during the process.

 The law imposes the appropriately stiff penalty of Reclusion Perpetua for a hazing-related death, or imprisonment ranging from four years to 17 years, depending on the extent of the injuries of a victim.

 “Kailangan nating ipatupad ito at ipursige ang pagresolba sa mga naunang kaso ng hazing upang makitang seryoso ang awtoridad na masugpo at mapapanagot ang mga nagkasala,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Huwag natin payagan lumago ang kultura ng karahasan sa Pilipinas. Imbis na pagdurusa ng kababayan, respeto at suporta ang dapat nating hangarin para sa kapwa,” added Sen. Bam.

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