Suspect in Atio’s slay yet to turn witness – Aguirre

Horacio Tomas Castillo III, a 22-year-old freshman law student at the UST, died of a heart attack after suffering injuries due to hazing, allegedly conducted by some members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. (Photo by CYRILLE CUPINO / Radyo Inquirer)

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II disclosed on Monday  that one of the suspects in the death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Horacio Tomas “Atio” Castillo III is yet to send a word if he will accept or decline the government’s offer to turn witness and be accommodated under its protection.

“Not yet,” Aguirre said in a text message when asked if frat man Ralph Trangia has already responded to his offer to place him and his family under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Trangia, who left the country last September 19 or two days after Castillo’s body was recovered by his parents – Horacio Jr. and Carmina – from a funeral parlor in Manila, has returned together with his mother, Rosemarie, last October 10.

The DOJ chief has noted that “(w)hile he may be a suspect as of the moment, depending on what he will tell our investigators, he could be a potential witness. And for this reason, the DOJ offers to him and to his family, the protection of our Witness Protection Program.”

Aguirre hoped that Trangia, a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, and his family would fully cooperate and tell the truth surrounding the death of Castillo.

“I encourage Mr. Trangia and his family to fully cooperate, to tell the truth and, as a future lawyer, to work for justice. And I again reiterate the DOJ’s invitation to anyone who knows anything about what happened to Mr. Atio Castillo to come forward and to tell the truth,” he said.

The Manila Police District (MPD) also included in its complaint Antonio Trangia, the registered owner of the red Strada pick-up truck that was supposedly used to bring Castillo’s body to the Chinese General Hospital following the alleged initiation rites that led to the freshman law student’s death.

In the October 9 hearing, Castillo’s parents filed supplemental complaints before the DOJ to include UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina and other members of Aegis Juris Fraternity, including the group’s trustees, as respondents in the case.

The supplemental complaints accused the respondents with violation of the Anti-Hazing Law (Republic Act 8049), murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), four counts of perjury under Article 183 of the RPC, and obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829.

Castillo’s parents also included in the complaint Vicente Garcia, owner of the building where the victim’s alleged initiation rites took place.

READ: Atio’s parents accuse UST Law Dean, 18 others at DOJ over son’s death

The DOJ investigating panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva gave the respondents until October 24 to file their respective counter-affidavits while those named in the supplemental complaints were given until October 30 to file their respective counter-affidavits.

The DOJ will resume its preliminary investigation hearing on the complaint on October 24.                   /kga