‘Count hazing as heinous crime’

'Count hazing as heinous crime'
Hazing victim’s family want to count hazing as a heinous crime. (Image from The Guidon) 

The parents of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, the UST law freshman who died in hazing in 2017, has appealed to count hazing as heinous crime.

According to Mrs. Carmina Castillo, it is time to include hazing in the list of heinous crimes and to stop any form of physical abuse to students in which the victims’ family suffer.

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Mrs. Castillo also said it is frustrating that lawmakers continue to ignore the calls to consider hazing as heinous crime.

Atio Castillo, 22, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital on September 17, 2017, after suffering extreme blows in the fatal hazing rites of Aegis Juris fraternity members of the University of Santo Tomas.

Atio’s father Horacio Castillo Jr. also emphasised that the hazing offenders should not be released early.

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“Kawawang-kawawa po ‘yung family. Ang laki ng hirap para mabigyan ng hustisya ‘yung victims, later to find out na ito pala ay pwede mapaiksi,” said Mr. Castillo Jr.

Currently, 10 Aegis Juris fraternity members were detained in the Manila City Jail for violating of anti-hazing law.

Meanwhile, the Castillo family sent their condolences to the family of new hazing victim PMA cadet Darwin Dormitorio. Dormitorio died of blunt force trauma in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City last week.

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Heinous crimes in the Philippines

Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Deo Marco defined heinous crime as “constrained to refer to the definition stipulation under the death penalty law.”

Heinous crimes are “grievous, odious and hateful offenses and which, by reason of their inherent or manifest wickedness, viciousness, atrocity and perversity are repugnant and outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just, civilized and ordered society.”

Republic Act 7659 lists the heinous crimes in the country:

  • Treason
  • Piracy in general and mutiny on the high seas in Philippine waters
  • Qualified piracy
  • Qualified bribery
  • Parricide
  • Murder
  • Infanticide
  • Kidnapping and serious illegal detention
  • Robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons
  • Destructive arson
  • Rape
  • Importation, distribution, manufacturing and possession of illegal drugs