Suspect in Atio Castillo’s death earns ire of Zubiri: ‘Ginag*go mo ba kami?’

One of the suspects in the death of hazing victim Horacio “Atio” Castillo III earned the ire of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday morning, after he continued to refuse to immediately execute a sworn affidavit.

At the opening of the Senate public order committee on Castillo’s death, Zubiri addressed John Paul Solano, saying: “Ginag*go mo ba ang committee?”

“Do you want to disrespect our committee? Let me put on record the many instances where you testified right there that during the preliminary investigation of this incident…you will release your statement on what had transpired that morning when Atio Castillo died. Now I ask you again, ginag*go mo ba ang committee na 'to?” Zubiri said.

Solano explained that he was ready to present his counter-affidavit last October 4 but the complainants requested for the hearing to be moved for them to be able to file supplemental complaints.

“What happened was beyond my control,” Solano told the committee.

“I am bound due to the cases that have been filed against me, and there is an ongoing preliminary investigation. So I will invoke my right against self-incrimination,” Solano said.

Zubiri believes Solano has not submitted an affidavit because his Aegis Juris fraternity brothers “prevailed” upon him.

Zubiri, a friend of Castillo’s father, is the author of the Senate resolution that sought an investigation on the death of Castillo, a freshman law student of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

In a letter sent to the committee, Solano said he will file a counter-affidavit as well as affidavits of his witnesses in the next scheduled preliminary investigation on October 24.

Solano appealed to the committee to reconsider its resolution allowing the release of the transcript of the executive session it held. During the said closed-door session, Solano supposedly bared the names of those involved in Castillo’s death.

“Please be rest assured that the material point that I have disclosed during the executive session will be in my sworn statement to be submitted to the Hon. Panel of Prosecutors,” Solano said.

Zubiri however moved to make public the testimony of Solano during executive session. The motion was approved by the Senate committee.

Castillo, 22, did not return home after telling his parents he was attending an event held by the Aegis Juris fraternity on the night of Saturday, September 16. His body was brought by Solano to Chinese General Hospital on Sunday morning. —KG, GMA News