From the Manila Standard: Senator Panfilo Lacson has expressed hope that there would be no more repeat of the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in September 2017 after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11053, which imposes penalties such as reclusion perpetua and up to P3 million in fines against those who engage in hazing. Continue reading “Ping wants no more hazing with new law [Manila Standard]”
Tag: UST
Batas na ang Anti-Hazing Law of 2018 (Republic Act 11053). Wala nang masasayang pang buhay dahil sa karahasan sa ngalan ng ‘kapatiran.’
Related:
Lacson-Sponsored Measure Providing Heavier Penalties vs Hazing Signed Into Law
Findings and recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Sponsorship speech for the Committee Report and the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018
A measure sponsored by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson to prevent hazing deaths with harsher penalties is now a law.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11053, which imposes penalties such as reclusion perpetua and up to P3 million in fines.
With the law, Lacson expressed hopes there will be no more repeat of the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in September 2017. Continue reading “Lacson-Sponsored Measure Providing Heavier Penalties vs Hazing Signed Into Law”
Basing it on the evidence gathered and presented during the public hearings conducted by the Senate on the Atio hazing case, the DOJ panel may have overlooked or disregarded the cover-up angle committed by the other frat members not included in the indictment.
The pieces of evidence like the authenticated contents of the group chat participated in by clearly identified members and officers, the video footages and other documents should have been enough for the DOJ to find probable cause to also charge them for being accessories after the fact at the very least.
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Related:
At a Glance: Findings and recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
At a Glance: Social media chat among Aegis Juris members, regarding the death of ‘Atio’ Castillo
Footage of Aegis Juris members meeting at Novotel
The Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 passes the bicameral conference committee
A measure providing harsher penalties against hazing and attempts at cover-up passed the bicameral conference committee level on Feb. 28, 2018.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that produced the Senate version of the measure, led the Senate contingent. Leading the House contingent was Justice Committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali.
Related:
Lacson committee: Reclusion perpetua, P3M danyos sa mga sangkot sa hazing
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Related:
SC starts disbarment proceedings vs 21 Aegis Juris lawyers in alleged cover-up of Atio’s death (Bulletin)
At a Glance: FB chat among Aegis Juris members to cover up ‘Atio’ Castillo’s death
Findings and recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
Voting 19-0, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 1662, which imposes heavier penalties on hazing and attempts to cover up the crime. The Senate also adopted the findings and recommendations of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs on the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.
Related:
Senators laud passage of SB 1662 on third and final reading
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
The Senate adopted the findings and recommendations of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. It also approved on second reading Senate Bill 1662, which provides heavier penalties against hazing and attempts at cover-up.
Related:
Period of interpellation for committee report and SB 1662
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Sen. Lacson answers questions from colleagues at the period of interpellation for Senate Bill 1662, which provides heavier penalties against hazing and attempts at cover-up.
Related:
Sponsorship speech for the Committee Report/Senate bill on the fatal hazing of Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Pagkatapos imbestigahan ang pagkamatay ni Horacio “Atio” Castillo III dulot ng hazing, inirekomenda ng komite ni Sen. Lacson sa Korte Suprema na i-disbar ang mga abogadong miyembro ng Aegis Juris fraternity, kabilang si Dean Nilo Divina. Ipinaalala rin ng komite na hindi maaaring manatiling tahimik ang pamunuan ng University of Santo Tomas sa hazing.
Related:
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Committee Report 232: Findings/Recommendations on the hazing death of Atio Castillo
Senate Bill 1662: Strengthening the Anti-Hazing Law
Watch: Sponsorship Speech for Committee Report 232 and Senate Bill 1662

Reclusion perpetua at tumataginting na P3 milyon na danyos ang rekomendasyon ng Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs sa mga masasangkot sa pagkamatay ng isang indibiduwal dahil sa hazing.
Ang mga nabanggit na rekomendasyon ay personal na isiniwalat ni Senador Panfilo Lacson, chairman ng naturang komite, matapos ang mga pagdinig na bunga ng pagkamatay ng hazing victim na si Horacio Castillo III mula sa University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Sa committee report ni Lacson, ipinaliwanag nitong humantong sila sa mga nabanggit na rekomendasyon matapos ang matagal at malalim na obserbasyon sa galaw ng mga indibiduwal at organisasyon na nabanggit sa naturang krimen.
Related:
Lacson committee pushes reclusion perpetua, hefty penalties vs hazing deaths
Continue reading “Lacson Committee: Reclusion Perpetua, P3M Danyos sa mga Sangkot sa Hazing”
Harsher penalties of up to reclusion perpetua and P3 million in fines are among the measures being eyed to prevent a repeat of deaths due to hazing.
Such higher punishments stemmed from hearings of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, who presented the committee report on the floor Wednesday.
At the hearings it conducted, Lacson’s committee found that law student Horacio Castillo III died while undergoing hazing rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity based at the University of Santo Tomas.
Related:
Lacson committee: Reclusion perpetua, P3M danyos sa mga sangkot sa hazing
Continue reading “Lacson Committee Pushes Reclusion Perpetua, Hefty Penalties vs Hazing Deaths”
Mr. President, sometime in September 2017, Horacio “Atio” Castillo III was offered the promise of mutual support and brotherhood by the Aegis Juris Fraternity not only during his tenure as a law student at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil law, but also during the Bar review and even in his future practice of the legal profession.
Apart from the guarantees made known to him, Atio decided to join the fraternity with a specific goal in mind, to discover his real purpose in life. Little did he know that his search for purpose would cost him his own life.
Related:
At a Glance: Findings and Recommendations on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
Read: Committee Report 232, Findings/Recommendations on the hazing death of Atio Castillo
Read: Senate Bill 1662, strengthening the Anti-Hazing Law
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Reported plan to consider the NPA as a terrorist group
– Revolutionary government
– Penalties vs hazing after Atio Castillo case
Quotes from the interview: Continue reading “#PingSays: On NPAs as terror group, PDEA initial performance, and heavier penalties in hazing | Nov. 20, 2017”
“Let’s put it this way. Ayaw naman namin matalo na parang i-release namin because meron siyang finile para maging moot and academic. Sabi ko nga, nobody wants to lose by default. So mas mainam na lang na ilaban sa SC. He asked for it, then we’ll give it to him.”
Quotes from the interview: Continue reading “#PingSays: Why Aegis Juris officer Arvin Balag may have to remain detained at the Senate | Nov. 6, 2017”
Our hearts go out to Atio’s parents. Struggling between relief and agony, they hate to hear what they have always wanted to know – what actually happened to their son that dreadful early morning of Sep 17, 2017.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) October 27, 2017
At a glance:
* On the emergence of a new ‘witness’ in the hazing death of ‘Atio’ Castillo
* FB chat among Aegis Juris frat members on the death of ‘Atio’ Castillo
* John Paul Solano’s statement, given in executive session
* Aegis Juris’ ‘commitment’ to the anti-hazing law
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Marawi fighting
– Rehab works in Marawi
– Atio Castillo hazing case
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | Oct. 21, 2017”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Strengthening penalties vs cover-ups following Atio Castillo’s hazing death
– Possibility of others aside from Balag being detained
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Oct. 20, 2017”
Senate security personnel escort Aegis Juris fraternity president Arvin Balag to his detention facility after a Senate panel hearing on the hazing death of law student Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III. Balag was cited in contempt for being evasive in answering senators’ questions.
The video on top shows members of the Aegis Juris fraternity meeting at a hotel to discuss the hazing death of Horacio Castillo III. Below is the manifesto of the fraternity against hazing, along with a screenshot of one of the members talking about ‘gulpihan.’
Continue reading “At a Glance: Aegis Juris’ ‘Commitment’ to the Anti-Hazing Law”

The Senate has issued Notices to Appear to 14 alumni of the Aegis Juris fraternity, in connection with Wednesday’s hearing on the fatal hazing of law student Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III. The hearing is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. of Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Senate session hall. The Senate may subpoena those who do not heed the notice. Invited to attend are:
Continue reading “Atio Castillo Hazing Case: Senate Invites 14 Aegis Juris Alumni to Wednesday’s Hearing”

The hearing on the fatal hazing of law student Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III has been moved to Wednesday, Oct. 18. This is due to the suspension of work at the Senate on Monday, Oct. 16 because of a scheduled transport strike. Thank you.
Following is the advisory from the Senate regarding the suspension of work on Monday:
[ADVISORY] According to the Senate OIC, Senator Gregorio Honasan, please be advised that work in the Senate on… https://t.co/GwOtHVJRA2
— SenatePH (@senatePH) October 15, 2017

The Senate has issued subpoenas to at least 14 personalities who may shed light on the fatal hazing of law student Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III. The hearing is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. of Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Senate session hall. Summoned to attend are:
Continue reading “Subpoenas Issued for the Next Senate Hearing on the Fatal Hazing of Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III”
Please be informed that the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs regarding the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III will not push through on Tuesday, as per Committee Secretary Claire Fuentes-Olay.
We will update you on the rescheduling of the hearing soonest. Thank you.
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Opening Statement for the Inquiry
on the Killing of Horacio Castillo III
Borrowing the wisdom of no less than the Supreme Court, Horacio Tomas Castillo III, like Lenny Villa and the other neophytes joining fraternities, entailed a leap in the dark. By giving consent under the circumstances, they left their fates in the hands of the fraternity members. Quoting from Villareal vs. People of the Philippines. G.R. No. 151258:
“Unfortunately, the hands to which lives were entrusted were barbaric as they were reckless.”
Let us cut to the chase, and spare the grieving family of denials with respect to his death caused by the misery of hazing in his initiation rites with the Aegis Juris Fraternity. His body, photos of which have circulated on every news channel, clearly outlined what happened to him on the night of September 16, 2017.
Continue reading “At the Hearing on the Fatal Hazing of Horacio Castillo III”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– the Sept 25 hearing on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
– what Mark Taguba may reveal at the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on corruption at the Bureau of Customs
– cashless society to eliminate corruption
– wiretapping of suspected drug personalities
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Sept. 24, 2017”
John Paul Solano, who was linked to the fatal hazing of UST law student Horacio Castillo III, surrendered Friday to Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
– Sen. Lacson turned Solano over to the MPD but expects him to testify at a Senate hearing on the incident on Sept. 25.
– Also, Sen. Lacson appealed to the other frat members linked to the hazing to surrender, as the PNP knows their location.