The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) via chairperson Patricia Licuanan issued a statement condemning the death of Horacio Castillo III who was killed in an alleged hazing.
The freshman law student from the University Santo Tomas (UST) died due to an alleged hazing by a fraternity namely Aegis Juris.
Licuanan was able to divulge a statement over the death of Horacio III during CHED’s budget hearing at the Senate on Thursday, September 21.
When asked by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri what’s her stand on the latter’s death, she said: “First of all, let me just say that we condemn this act very strongly.”
Liquanan then cited the Memorandum Order No 4, Series of 1995 issued by CHED of which according to Rappler state the “preventive measures against violence and sanctions on fraternities and other student organizations.”
Based on the memo, any fraternity member is entitled to automatic expulsion upon committing any of the following; starting or taking the offensive action that clearly provokes violence, carrying knives, sticks, pipes, guns, and other deadly weapons in schools and extortion.
Officers of the fraternity who were found guilty of committing such violence will be suspended for approximately 60 days up to one-year suspension. In the next offense, the member will be permanently banned.
“We have asked our regional office, the NCR (National Capital Region) regional office, to look into this very tragic event,” she added.
Liquanan noted that UST is yet to file a report to CHED regarding the incident.
Castillo was found by a good Samaritan identified as John Paul Solano covered by a blanket in Tondo, Manila, on September 17.
The former UST student was brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.