Push Admin

Fratmen in Atio slay 'cover-up' chat could face obstruction raps

Article (news)

Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/akyytf1U1Wk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure>MANILA - Police are eyeing possible obstruction of justice charges against Aegis Jvris fraternity members who allegedly discussed how to cover up the hazing death of law freshman Horacio Castillo III in a Facebook chat.The Facebook chat, which allegedly occurred from September 17 to 18, immediately after Atio&#x27;s death, was read by Senator Joel Villanueva during Wednesday&#x27;s Senate hearing.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/10/18/17/never-ever-give-a-hint-how-aegis-jvris-fratmen-responded-to-atio-crisis">&#x27;Never ever give a hint&#x27;: How Aegis Jvris fratmen responded to &#x27;Atio&#x27; crisis</a></li></ul>C/Supt. Joel Coronel, chief of the Manila Police District, said they were able to get a copy of the messages through a link from the &quot;Justice for Horacio Castillo&quot; Facebook page. He said the Facebook chat was verified by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime group.&quot;At the moment, we are filing charges against those directly involved in the initiation and hazing of Atio Castillo and during the next round of preliminary investigation, we will already include those who may be held liable for obstruction of justice, including those mentioned in the chat,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/18/17/bar-confidant-obstruction-of-justice-a-ground-for-disbarment">READ: Bar confidant: Obstruction of justice a ground for disbarment </a></li></ul>&quot;We’re waiting for feedback from Facebook Philippines, who I understand will give us the verified and authentic certification for these chat groups, and based on the rules on electronic evidence, we can present this before the investigating panel,&quot; he said.He explained the message thread may be admissible in court because it &quot;was open in social media.&quot; He said that while the chat may be private to some members, &quot;others have access to it and they can link it and send it to others who can also have access to this.&quot;The Senate and law enforcers are investigating the death of Castillo, 22, supposedly due to massive injuries <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/18/17/ust-student-kumpirmadong-nasawi-sa-hazing-autopsy">consistent with hazing</a>.Coronel said most astounding to him from the legislative hearing was the &quot;attempt of the fraternity to cover up and conceal this particular incident despite that they have announced that they are willing to support and cooperate in the investigation.&quot;The controversial Facebook chat was started with a certain lawyer-member of the frat calling for a meeting.&quot;Brods, we need to meet ASAP. Calling on all die-hard Aegians. We all have important things to do but I couldn&#x27;t find anything more important than this,&quot; said certain Atty. Marvy Abo.There was a point in the conversation when someone suggested that Aegis Jvris create a &quot;crisis committee&quot; tasked to reach out to the Castillo family &quot;para di na mag-ingay&quot; (so they would not squeal).&quot;May kaya &#x27;yang family na &#x27;yan. Bukas makakakuha na sila ng search warrant sa frat [library]. Sana malinis na, matanggal na ang paddle doon,&quot; said one Atty. Alston Kevin Anarna.(Their family is quite well-off. Tomorrow, they will be able to get a search warrant for the frat library. Hopefully it will be clean, with the paddles removed.)A certain Ronald Cheng, who is working at the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&#x27;s 2nd division, was also part of the conversation, saying, &quot;nakita ko na &#x27;yung CCTV ng barangay... Di covered ang frat lib ng CCTV.&quot; (I have seen the CCTV (footage) of the village. The frat lib is not covered.)<div>NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE DIVINA KNOWLEDGE</div>There has been no evidence so far to prove that University of Sto. Tomas Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina knew of the fatal hazing of law freshman Horacio Castillo III, said Coronel.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OugcXBnyf9o?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure>Lawmakers had questioned Divina, who is also part of the Aegis Jvris fraternity and whose law firm will represent the school if faced with a lawsuit, during the legislative hearing Wednesday on his knowledge of the crime supposedly committed inside their organization&#x27;s library in Manila.&quot;In the course of our investigation, we have no evidence to show that he has knowledge of the initiation activity so far,&quot; he said.&quot;The only link of Atty. Divina in this particular case is that he the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law and it was under his watch or administration and being a full-fledged member of the Aegis Jvris fraternity that this incident happened,&quot; he added.The parents of Castillo <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/17/ust-law-dean-aegis-jvris-men-face-raps-over-castillo-hazing-death">sued</a> Divina for murder and violation of Republic Act No. 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. He was also charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

Police are eyeing possible obstruction of justice charges against Aegis Jvris fraternity members who allegedly discussed how to cover up the hazing death of law freshman Horacio Castillo III in a Facebook chat.

Police are eyeing possible obstruction of justice charges against Aegis Jvris fraternity members who allegedly discussed how to cover up the hazing death of law freshman Horacio Castillo III in a Facebook chat.

Fratmen in Atio slay 'cover-up' chat could face obstruction raps

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Fratmen in Atio slay 'cover-up' chat could face obstruction raps

Trishia Billones,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 19, 2017 10:38 AM PHT

Read More:

ANC

ANC Top

ANC Exclusives

obstruction of justice

Nilo Divina

Aegis Jvris

fraternity

hazing

Joel Coronel

Horacio Castillo III

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.