MPD says they have 3 suspects in Atio Castillo hazing death

The Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday confirmed that they have three suspects in the death of hazing victim Horacio Tomas "Atio" Castillo III.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel identified the three as John Paul Solano, Ralph Trangia, and Antonio Trangia.

Solano was earlier considered the "principal suspect" after the MPD discovered that he gave "false statements" to the police.

Coronel said that they were also able to determine that Castillo's "motionless body" was brought to the Chinese General Hospital in a red Mitsubishi Strada with a plate number of ZTV 539.

He said that the vehicle was registered to Antonio Trangia, whom they believe is the father of Ralph Trangia, an alleged official of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.

"So both persons Mr. Antonio Trangia and Ralph Trangia are now possible suspects also, and manhunt operations will be undertaken to effect their immediate arrest and the recovery of the motor vehicle," Coronel said.

"So clearly as you can see as a result of our investigation, Mr. John Paul Solano together with assistants and cooperation of Mr. Antonio Trangia and Ralph Trangia deliberately misled our investigation in the death of Horacio Castillo by providing us false and fraudulent statements concerning the discovery of Mr. Castillo in Balut, Tondo which we feel was a cover up for the actual murder and killing of the victim," he added.

Coronel said that MPD has also considered at least eight officers of the Aegis Juris fraternity who are currently enrolled as suspects.

"At this time I can say that all officers of the Aegis Juris fraternity currently enrolled are considered suspects which is also provided under the anti-hazing law wherein officers of fraternities or organizations are to be held liable in the event that incidents such as this will take place, so they are already considered as suspects," he said.

The MPD earlier found inconsistencies between Solano's testimony and the accounts of officials of Barangay 133 in Manila, where Solano claimed he found the UST law freshman's body.

In the police's spot report, Solano claimed that he found Castillo at the corner of H. Lopez and Infanta Streets in Barangay 133 around 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Solano said he was on his way to the San Lazaro Hospital, where he works, when he saw Castillo's body.

He claimed that he flagged down a red Strada pick-up to help him bring Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital.

Coronel, however, said that barangay officials told them no body was found in their barangay and nearby areas.

Meanwhile, Coronel said that they still have "more than a handful" of possible suspects. However, he refused to reveal their identities as investigations are ongoing.

"Kaya hindi namin maibigay sa inyo immediately because sensitive matters are involved, identities of possible suspects and of course yung witnesses who are providing these information," Coronel said.

"We have strong and solid leads to the identities of other suspects, we are pursuing these leads and hopefully positive developments will come out," he added.

The MPD said faculty members and alumni of the UST Faculty of Civil Law will be included in the investigation.

"Part of investigation will include possible members of UST law faculty and alumni who may have participated in the hazing of Atio Castillo or in the cover-up of this incident. They may be held either as co-conspirators, accomplices, accessories, or even liable for obstruction of justice," Coronel said.

He added that they cannot reveal yet the area where the hazing was held but said that it did not happen on campus.

Castillo, a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, died after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity on Saturday night.

Authorities had confirmed that he died from injuries sustained during hazing.

The victim's family learned about the incident when his mother Carminia Castillo received an anonymous text message saying that her son had been brought to the Chinese General Hospital. — BM/KVD, GMA News