MANILA - (UPDATED) University of the Santo Tomas (UST) on Sunday announced its decision to kick out 8 law students tagged in the fatal hazing of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III last year.

The 22-year-old Castillo was found dead by his parents in a morgue in Manila in September 2017 after attending the initiation rites of Aegis Jvris, a law-school based fraternity.

A UST committee found 8 Civil Law students "guilty of violating the Code of Conduct and Discipline and imposing the supreme penalty of expulsion," the university administration said in a statement.

"The University reiterates its commitment to ferret out the truth, determine liability, and impose the appropriate sanctions," read the statement published by The Varsitarian, UST's official student publication.

"UST has always been one with the Castillo family in the steadfast call for everyone to pray and work together to achieve justice for Horacio and for truth to prevail," it added.

UST Law Dean Nilo Divina, one of the most notable alumni of Aegis Jvris, is facing a Supreme Court investigation and possible disbarment along with 20 others for their alleged "cover up" of Castillo's hazing.

In a statement, Divina said the Faculty of Law will implement the university committee order.

"The committee has exercised the authority and carried out the mandate that the university has given. Its resolution will be faithfully implemented by the Faculty of Civil Law," he said.

UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina on the expulsion of 8 law students involved in the Atio hazing case pic.twitter.com/d4Bpmh8okq — Angel Movido (@angelmovido) February 18, 2018

Divina added that they are currently waiting information on the identity of the 8 students.

UST's Office for Student Affairs has conducted a university-wide seminar on the Anti-Hazing Law and recommended a comprehensive review of the student handbook and the accreditation process for organizations.

The office also issued an indefinite moratorium on the recruitment and all other activities of all fraternities and sororities in the university.