MANILA - The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has ordered the arrest of suspects in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio "Atio" Castillo III in September last year.

In a ruling penned by Manila RTC Branch 40 Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan, the court found probable cause based on his evaluation of the justice department's resolution indicting the respondents.

Ordered arrested were Mhin Weig Chan, Jose Miguel Salamat, John Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang Jr., Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, and Hans Matthew Rodrigo, all members of the Aegis Jvris fraternity.

Last month, UST expelled 8 law students tagged in Castillo's fatal hazing. The university, however, refused to identify the students.

• UST expels 8 students over Atio Castillo's fatal hazing

Castillo died while undergoing initiation rites at the Aegis Jvris fraternity on September 17.

His death put the spotlight on fraternities and their culture of hazing, prompting lawmakers to amend the existing anti-hazing law.

• 'No more gray areas' in Senate bill seeking hazing ban

More details to follow. -- Report from Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News