Solon believes UST wants justice for ‘Atio’

FILE: Sen. Joel Villanueva. (Photo: Joel Villanueva/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Joel Villanueva said he believes that students, faculty, and officials of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) are rallying behind seeking justice for the death of law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III amid criticism that the university had been indifferent.

“I think all Thomasians are rallying behind Atio’s family,” Villanueva, a UST alumnus himself, said in a TV interview on Tuesday. “That’s the Thomasian spirit. I am not a Catholic but I embrace Thomasian virtues when you talk about justice, truth,” he added. Villanueva is the son of Jesus is Lord (JIL) founder and preacher Bro.

Eddie Villanueva.

Villanueva also expressed disappointment on members of the Aegis Juris fraternity linked to Atio’s death, calling them “rascals” for being an embarrassment to the university.

“We are producing these kinds of lawyers, future lawyers. It’s horrible. Their actions should be tempered with the full weight of the law,” Villanueva said.

He, meanwhile, expressed confidence that UST would also contribute efforts to help authorities in their investigation.

“I trust that UST will allow itself to be part of the scrutiny going on and the leadership should be committed that if we have found that there is an oversight and negligence in its duty, they have to face the music,” he added.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, UST said that there had been an “inaccurate portrayal” of its efforts to help the investigation into Castillo’s death.

“[O]n first day that news broke out, the University manifested its grief, offered prayers, and conveyed its profound sympathy to the family of Horacio,” the statement read.

UST said that it had coordinated with the Manila Police District and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and allowed representatives of the Legal Education Board and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to monitor the proceedings of its investigation despite limitations under the Education Act and the Data Privacy Act. (PNA)