Frat hazing suspect returns

Ralph Trangia, one of the suspects in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas freshman law student Horacio Castillo III, returned to Manila Tuesday morning on board a flight from Taipei, Taiwan.

Trangia, together with his mother Rosemarie, arrived on board Eva Air flight BR-271 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1 at around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday.

They were met at the Naia by at least three lawyers and a police officer, Chief Insp. Rommel Anicete, said to be a family friend.

Quiet and pensive

Trangia was quiet and looked rather pensive, according to investigators. He declined to answer questions. Not even one.

“He was asked if he wanted to be placed under our custody but he refused to answer,” said a source at the National Bureau of Investigation. “He did not look calm but he was not uneasy too. He was just, let’s say, quiet,” another NBI source said.

Trangia’s mother did the talking for him. But the Trangias declined to comment on the hazing case.

Welcome development

“To face the allegations and to prove their innocence,” one of the lawyers, Rowell Ilagan replied when asked why the Trangias returned to the country.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday said that Trangia’s decision to return was a “welcome development.”

“Hopefully, Mr. Trangia’s return is covered in good intentions to clear his name and to tell the truth,” Aguirre said in a statement.

“I encourage Mr. Trangia and his family to fully cooperate, to tell the truth and, as a future lawyer, to work for justice,” he said. “While he may be a suspect as of the moment, depending on what he will tell our investigators, he could be a potential witness.”

Aguirre reminded Trangia and other individuals who have knowledge on Castillo’s death that the Department of Justice was ready to provide them protection through the Witness Protection Program.

Voluntarily return

“Those who do will find the truth liberating. You cannot live in lies and untruth forever. We are waiting for you,” he said.

Ilagan denied accusations that the Trangias fled the country, adding that their “original intention” was to “voluntarily return” to the country.

The lawyer said the fact that his clients bought return tickets indicated that Trangias’ willingness to place themselves under the legal jurisdiction of Philippine authorities.

The lawyer said the Trangias would give their side during the preliminary investigation before the justice department.

Ralph Trangia (center), a suspect in the fatal hazing of freshman UST Law student Horacio Castillo III, arrives at Naia Terminal 1. —LYN RILLON

Bureau of Immigration-Naia chief Marc Mariñas told reporters that operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) and NBI were on hand to offer security to the Trangias.

“There’s no warrant of arrest against him so he will be treated as an ordinary citizen. We will refer them to the NBI at MPD if they desire security assistance,” he said.

Undisclosed location

Ilagan said the Trangias will proceed to an “undisclosed location” for their safety and security.

The Trangias left for the United States via Taipei last Sept. 19, two days after the death of Castillo.

Ralph and several Aegis Juris members are facing charges for Castillo’s death.

Ralph and his father Antonio, together with law student John Paul Solano, were allegedly the ones who brought the hazing victim to Chinese General Hospital in Manila.