Atio’s mother pleads with UST: Name the expelled civil law students

The mother of hazing victim Horacio "Atio" Castillo wants to know the identities of the former University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law students who were expelled due to their alleged involvement in the death of her son.

"Okay, sige, binibigyan nila ng pansin 'yung kaso ng anak ko, but of course they still have to name kung sino 'yung eight students na 'yun kasi gusto ko rin malaman kung kasama na siya sa nakasuhan namin or do we still need to add additional names," Carminia Castillo said in a Balitanghali interview.

"As the mother, our family, we have the right to know kung sino ito. Ako 'yung nanay ng namatayan, nagiimbestiga kayo diyan wala man lang kayong binibigay na kasulatan, what happened. Di niyo kami ini-inform sino-sino 'yung kasama sa panel na nagi-investigate... I appeal to them na bigyan nila kami ng kopya," Castillo said.

UST's publication The Varsitarian reported on Sunday that eight civil law students have been found "guilty of violating the [school's] Code of Conduct and Discipline" by the committee formed by UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., on Sept. 19, 2017, and expelled from the school.

The University has not revealed yet the names of the expelled civil law students. The committee's probe is still ongoing as it vowed to hold liable all students involved in Atio's death.

Atio's bruised and battered body was rushed to the hospital on the morning of September 17, 2017, hours after he attended the welcoming rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity.

The Vatican

The bereaved family also confirmed that they are planning to file a complaint against UST before the Vatican.

"Ipre-present namin lahat ng reklamo namin, 'yung kakulangan sa aksyon ng UST and maybe parang bigyang pansin sana ng Vatican 'yung mga tauhan ng UST," the mother of Atio said.

"Nag-prepare kami, may protocol na sinusundan, susundin naman namin 'yun," Castillo said.

As one of the world's largest Catholic universities, UST has been visited by three popes, including Pope Francis in January 2015. — BM, GMA News