REGLOS
Saying they wanted to have peace of mind, the family of alleged hazing victim Marvin Reglos has started talks with representatives of all the accused for a possible out-of-court settlement of the civil aspect of the case.
Lawyer Dennis Pangan鈥攚ho is representing the kin of the 25-year-old San Beda law student reportedly killed during hazing rites held by the Lambda Rho Beta (LRB) fraternity in Antipolo City last year鈥攖old the Inquirer in a phone interview on Tuesday that the family鈥檚 change of heart may be attributed to several factors.
Pangan said that some of the accused and their families visited Reglos鈥� grave in Isabela province during his death anniversary last February.
鈥淎ccording to the mother (Myrna Reglos), they went [there] to pay their respects to the dead and to [apologize] for everything,鈥� he said, adding that the gesture 鈥渨ould melt a mother鈥檚 heart.鈥�
He said Reglos鈥� parents also decided to start talks with the accused鈥攁fter rebuffing 鈥渇rom the very start鈥� feelers sent out by their representatives鈥攁fter the two people arrested in connection with their son鈥檚 death, Bojhee Yap and Eric Castillo, were allowed to post bail by the judge handling the case.
Pangan added that another factor in the couple鈥檚 turnaround were the expenses they would incur every time they attended court hearings in Manila, including the costs of traveling from Isabela province to Antipolo City where the trial was being held, and lodgings in Manila the night before the hearing.
He said that Myrna, who used to be a teacher in Korea, was now out of work while her husband, Lucito, who is undergoing chemotherapy, wasn鈥檛 earning a lot as a farmer.
The couple also have a daughter who is still in college, added Pangan who is handling the case on a pro-bono basis.
He pointed out, however, that although money was one of the Reglos鈥� considerations in looking at the possibility of an out-of-court settlement, his clients, whom he described as living 鈥渁 simple life,鈥� were not after financial remuneration but peace of mind, particularly Myrna who was 鈥渁 devout Catholic.鈥�
Asked whether hearings on the murder charges filed against the accused, all LRB members, would continue even if a settlement between both parties was reached, Pangan replied in the affirmative, saying 鈥渢he criminal aspect of the case would proceed.鈥�
鈥淥n my part, I will still be doing my job and will attend hearings,鈥� he said.
He added, however, that the reality was that if a settlement would be reached, this would be interpreted as a loss of interest on the part of the complainant to pursue the case against the accused.
According to Pangan, no initial settlement amount has been discussed at this point.
In addition, none of the parties has set a deadline for the negotiations, he said.
鈥淯ntil they settle the issues, [the talks will continue]. It鈥檚 like a (collective bargaining agreement),鈥� the lawyer explained.