Music Room, Malacañan Palace
October 4, 2017

“You have my word,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Mr. Horacio Castillo, Jr. and Mrs. Carminia Castillo as he promised a proper and just investigation into the killing of their son, University of Sto. Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio Castillo III, in a meeting at the Music Room in Malacañan Palace.

The President expressed his desire to have a stricter enforcement of the law regarding the prohibition of hazing during initiation rites of fraternity or sorority groups, and discussed the possibility of involving school authorities in such activities to monitor against illegal practices.

During the meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Castillo asked President Duterte to have the Manila Police District (MPD) conduct the investigation instead of other investigative bodies. President Duterte granted their request and spoke with MPD District Director PSSupt. Joel Napoleon Coronel over the phone, wherein he asked the MPD chief to conduct the sole investigation into the killing of Horacio Castillo III.

The President was accompanied in the event by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Founding Chair Dante Jimenez.

On September 16, 2017, UST law student Horacio Castillo III was killed during a hazing committed by members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.

*  *  *