Civil Law dean denies meeting Atio days before hazing
by Marc dela Paz
Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina submitted on Monday his counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice (DOJ) denying any liability in the death of freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, who was allegedly killed due to hazing rites.
Along with his 30-page counter-affidavit, Divina attached copies of CCTV footages from his law firm to prove Castillo did not meet with him on September 12, as Atio’s parents Horacio and Carmina claimed.
Atio’s parents, assisted by their lawyer Lorna Kapunan whom Divina sued for libel thrice, filed a complaint against the dean for murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
Kapunan’s son Lino, who is also co-counsel in the case, said Atio paid a courtesy call on Divina as a neophyte of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, which Divina is also a member of.
The Castillo camp used a text conversation as evidence between Carmina and her son on September 12, where Atio said he was at a law firm near “Petron gas along Buendia” where the Divina Law firm happens to be in that area.
Divina however said that he prohibited organizations at the UST Faculty of Civil Law including the fraternity from recruiting freshmen.
“Atio did not even mention my name or my law firm. Indeed, there must be at least a dozen law firms in the Petron area. In our building lane, there are several law firms. There is simply nothing in the foregoing text exchange that can be construed as indicative of actual prior knowledge on my part of the hazing that was to be conducted on September 17,” Divina said in his counter-affidavit.
Also, Divina said in his counter-affidavit that organizations wishing to conduct initiation rites seek approval not from his office, but from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) which has the duty to appoint school representatives to be present during initiation rites.
Divina said that Aegis Juris did not ask permission from OSA and that he cannot be accused of a cover-up because he had done all he could to help with the investigation.
He also said that the reason why he did not immediately called Atio’s parents about their son’s death on September 17 was because he only heard an unconfirmed report from the Faculty Secretary Arthur Capili.
Divina only received initial details from news reports in the morning of Sept. 18.
“Up to that point, none of the police authorities had gotten in touch with me. I took it upon myself to write General Joel Napoleon Coronel, the head of the Manila Police District, requesting for a dialogue to enable us in the Faculty of Civil Law to implement whatever measures you think is necessary to assist the police in its investigation,” Divina said.
Also, Divina said that he does not know the officers of the fraternity and their contact details as he is a non-active member of Aegis Juris.
Divina added that he considers quitting the fraternity but said that the decision would have to be made after the case.
