Atio Castillo hazing suspect Solano can’t be released just yet, MPD says

The Manila Police District cannot release hazing suspect John Paul Solano just yet.

According to a report by Cecille Villarosa of dzBB, the case of obstruction of justice was not covered by release order the Department of Justice sent to the MPD after it resolved to set the cases related to the killing of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III up for preliminary investigation.

MPD Homicide Section Chief Rommel Anicete: Solano cannot be released despite the release order from DOJ. @dzbb

— Cecille Villarosa (@CecilVillarosa) September 27, 2017

Anicete: The case of obstruction of justice is not included in the DOJ reso, hence, Solano cannot be released yet. @dzbb

— Cecille Villarosa (@CecilVillarosa) September 27, 2017

The DOJ earlier ordered the release of Solano from detention pending further investigation on the criminal complaint involving the death of freshman law student Castillo.

Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. told reporters that a release order has already been issued for Solano, who is currently detained at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.

Catalan, however, clarified that Solano is not yet off the hook since the complaints against him and other respondents will undergo preliminary investigation by a three-man panel of prosecutors where he is given the chance to refute the allegations.

The DOJ set the hearings for October 4 and 9.

"The preliminary investigation that would be conducted would only mean that he will have the opportunity or chance to file his answer, but it would depend upon the panel whether or not probable cause exists. If there is, we will file the case in court. If there is none, we will dismiss it," the DOJ official said.

Solano was charged on Monday with murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law by the MPD, which took him into custody following his surrender on September 22.

The MPD has also filed charges against 17 other individuals, mostly members of the Aegis Juris fraternity which conducted the brutal initiation rites for Castillo on September 17.

Solano's camp then questioned the conduct of inquest proceedings, arguing he voluntarily surrendered to cooperate in the probe and that he was not a subject of a warrantless arrest.

His lawyer, Paterno Esmaquel, also said the complaint must be dismissed since there was no complex crime of murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law. —NB, GMA News