MANILA — The University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Monday condemned the death of law student Horacio Castillo III due to alleged hazing.
“We condemn in no uncertain terms hazing in any form or manner. Violence has no place in an academic institution, particularly in the University of Santo Tomas that values and promotes charity and compassion,” the Catholic university said in a statement.
At the same time, the university expressed sympathy to Castillo’s family.
“No words can describe our sadness for this unfortunate incident. We express our profound sympathy and offer our prayers to his family for their pain and anguish— a pain that we share seeing that the life of our very own student, with all of its aspirations and potentials, taken away because of a senseless act,” the statement added.
They also assured the Castillo family that they will “leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators be meted the appropriate sanctions and brought to justice”.
On Sunday, Castillo’s body bearing bruises and burns was found dumped in a street in Balut, Tondo.
The victim’s father, Horacio Jr., said his son had attended the welcoming rites of Aegis Juris Fraternity.
On the other hand, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) has joined the call for justice over the death of Castillo allegedly because of hazing.
“The fraternity involved should clear their group about this incident. May justice be served to all,” CBCP-ECY Executive Secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta said.
The Catholic priest added that such incidents would have been prevented if only young people learned from the past.
“Pity that many young males and their elders continue to ignore the painful lessons of past incidences of death due to hazing activities,” he said. | PNA
