Arraignment of Aegis Juris fratmen over Atio fatal hazing case moved to July

MANILA, Philippines — The arraignment of the members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity members accused in the fatal hazing of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has been moved to July 24.

Aegis Juris fratmen's arraignment rescheduled to July 24 due to pending motions. | @reygalupo

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 22, 2018

Judge Marivic Umali of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 moved the arraignment to a later date due to a yet to be resolved appeal filed by one of the accused.

According to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, accused Ralph Trangia has filed a Petition for Review on the Department of Justice resolution indicting him and nine other members of the fraternity over the fatal hazing of Castillo. Trangia is facing violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law charges.

Nine other members of the Aegis Juris are facing the same charges before the Manila court. They are the following:

• Arvin Balag
• Oliver John Audrey Onofre
• Mhin Wei Chan
• Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo
• Joshua Joriel Macabali
• Axel Munrio Hipe
• Marcelino Bagtang
• Jose Miguel Salamat
• Robin Ramos

READ: 10 Aegis Juris members surrender to NBI

The case was raffled off to the sala of Umali of Manila RTC Branch 20 after Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan of Branch 40 recused himself from the case in March. Ampuan granted the Motion for Inhibition filed by Trangia, Ramos and Rodrigo.

The three accused Ampuan of having "tilted the scales of justice against them." While the judge said that claims of the accused are "without bases," Ampuan decided to inhibit as "all the above-mentioned accused and/or their respective counsel already nurtured at the back of their minds the thought" that he was biased against them.

The 10 accused are currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters. They voluntarily surrendered to the NBI in less than 24 hours since Ampuan's sala issued a warrant of arrest against them in March. —  Kristine Joy Patag