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Hazing victim's family: Why was body embalmed before autopsy?

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/trending/09/18/091817-horacio-castillo-iii.jpg"/><figcaption>Horacio Castillo III. File Photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Investigators should look into who ordered the embalming of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III before his remains could undergo autopsy, his family&#x27;s lawyer said Monday.Castillo, a law freshman at the University of Santo Tomas, died of massive injuries after an apparent Aegis Jvris fraternity hazing last September 17.Without the consent of his parents, his body was embalmed before police were able to perform an autopsy, which was against protocol, said Lorna Kapunan, the Castillo family&#x27;s lawyer.&quot;Iyun na nga po ang question mark, how can you embalm a body without the parents&#x27; consent? Sino ang nagbigay ng order? Kapag na-embalsamo na iyan, mahirap nang i-autopsy, iba na ang results ng autopsy. Obviously, cover-up po iyan,&quot; Kapunan told DZMM.(That is the question, how can you embalm a body without the parents&#x27; consent? Who gave the order? Once a body is embalmed, it would be difficult to conduct an autopsy, the results would be changed. That is obviously a cover-up.)<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jldxWK8z384" width="560"></iframe></figure><div>&#x27;UST OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PROBED&#x27;</div>Kapunan encouraged authorities to investigate the possible liability of UST officials, including Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina.Divina, an Aegis Jvris member, claimed in a Senate hearing last week that a frat brother, Faculty Secretary Arthur Capili, had informed him on July 18 that a UST student with the surname &quot;Castillo&quot; was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital, said Kapunan.The dean, she said, failed to look into the information and reach out to the student&#x27;s family.&quot;Kung alam na niya iyung pangalan na Castillo at siya ay dean at familiar with the fraternity, bakit naman hindi niya tinawagan ang parents?&quot; she said.(If he knew that the surname was Castillo and he was a dean and familiar with the fraternity, why did he not contact the parents of the student?)Kapunan added that under the law, school officials could be held liable for cases of physical injury, death or mutilation due to hazing.Divina, for his part, earlier said UST was <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/29/17/ust-not-liable-in-fatal-hazing-says-law-dean">not liable</a> for Castillo&#x27;s hazing as the Aegis Jvris was not recognized by the school and the fatal activity happened outside their premises.The Senate and the House of Representatives have begun their legislative probe into Castillo&#x27;s death as they look to amend or repeal the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995. Preliminary investigation hearings on the case were also set on October 4 and 9.

Investigators should look into who ordered the embalming of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III before his remains could undergo autopsy, his family's lawyer said Monday.

Investigators should look into who ordered the embalming of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III before his remains could undergo autopsy, his family's lawyer said Monday.