HORACIO "Atio" Castillo III who was brutally killed by suspected members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity was buried on Wednesday, September 27.
Family and friends who attended the burial at the Manila Memorial Park in ParaƱaque City wore shirts printed with #JusticeForHoracio as they called for the prosecution of those involved in the killing.
Before the burial, a funeral mass was held at Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati City, where the Castillo family and the students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) paid their final respects.
(Video by Al Padilla/Sunstar Philippines)
During the mass, Castillo's father and namesake, Horacio Jr., described his son as the "best son any parent could ever have."
"Horacio our son is a good son, a perfect son, the best son, any parent could ever have," he said.
"Horacio we now let you go. Because we love you so much. And we want you to be forever happy. We will miss you terribly but we will be okay. Pray for us Atio and give us the strength to fight for justice. Justice for you and justice for all those who lost their lives to hazing," he added.
Castillo who was aspiring to be a good lawyer was killed during the welcoming rites of Aegis Juris Fraternity on September 16, barely two months after he enrolled in the UST Faculty of Civil Law.
(Video by Al Padilla/Sunstar Philippines)
He was found lifeless by his parents at the Chinese General Hospital after receiving a text from an anonymous sender on September 17.
Both his arms were covered in bruises. Marks of cigarette burns, candle wax drips were also found on his body.
Several members of Aegis Juris Fraternity, including main suspect John Paul Solano, who allegedly took part in the initiation rites are facing charges of murder, violation anti-hazing law, and robbery before the Department of Justice.
Solano, who brought Castillo's body to the hospital, is also charged with obstruction of justice, robbery, and perjury.
Solano, who earlier said he saw the body of Castillo in a street in Tondo recanted his statement and surrendered to Senator Panfilo Lacson last Friday, who turned him over to the Manila Police District.
Solano who has been detained at the MPD since Friday will be set free Wednesday afternoon after the DOJ released a resolution freeing him from detention as the inquest proceedings conducted following his surrender is illegal as he is not arrested by the virtue of a warrantless arrest. (SunStar Philippines)