Court orders DOJ to comment on bid of Atio case accused to post bail

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40 has given the prosecution until Monday, March 26, to comment on the omnibus motion filed by the accused in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.

Aegis Juris fraternity members Axel Munro Hipe and Oliver John Audrey Onofre have asked the court to allow them to post bail, to disqualify Mark Anthony Ventura from the Witness Protection Program, and to quash the information (charge sheet).

In addition, fraternity member Ralph Trangia filed a motion seeking to suspend the issuance of arrest warrants on the basis of continuous trial.

During a hearing on Friday, Judge Alfredo Ampuan granted the motion of Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Lourdes Antonietta Danta for them to be given until Monday to file a comment on their motions.

Once the prosecution files its comment, Judge Ampuan said the motions filed by the accused would be deemed submitted for resolution.

The accused in Castillo’s death were slapped by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with non-bailable charges for violation of RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law.

As of writing, all of the 10 accused have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).   /muf