UST students hold prayer vigil for hazing victim Atio Castillo

Students and faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas on Monday held a prayer vigil inside the campus to condemn and mourn the death of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III, an alleged  hazing victim.

For Horacio Castillo III pic.twitter.com/2y2sMLh10n

— ivan mayrina (@ivanmayrina) September 18, 2017

A former professor, meanwhile, described Castillo as a good student leader and has expressed sadness over his death.

"As a political science student, he was a student leader," said Professor Rogelio Braga in a 24 Oras report by GMA News' Ivan Mayrina on Monday.

"Nakakalungkot na parang sa panahon ngayon na ang daming karahasan sa bayan, dinadagdagan pa nila 'yung mga ganong klase ng karahasan."

Marami ang nakibahagi sa prayer vigil sa UST para kay Horacio Castillo III @dzbb pic.twitter.com/M0X55on7en

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) September 18, 2017

Castillo's body was found by a concerned citizen on a sidewalk at the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Balut, Tondo, around 8 a.m. on Sunday.

His mother, Carminia Castillo, learned about the incident when she had received an anonymous text message telling her her son has been brought to Chinese General Hospital.

Carmina said their son, a freshman law student, had informed them that he was invited to join a fraternity.

According to her, her son had told them that the initiation was already over and that a welcome event, an overnight drinking session, would be held on Saturday in UST.

Mga sinindihang mga kandila sa lobby ng UST Faculty of Civil Law @dzbb pic.twitter.com/8b333YdfzN

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) September 18, 2017

The UST Faculty of Civil Law has ordered the "preventive suspension" of all officers and members of the Aegis Juris fraternity.

The administration of UST also started to investigate the incident.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News