Parents of accused Aegis Juris fratmen to NBI: Keep custody of our children

The parents of the 10 Aegis Juris fraternity members charged over the death of law student Horacio Castillo III have asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) not to transfer their children to the Manila Police District (MPD).

In a letter addressed to NBI director Dante Gierran, the parents of the accused said their children will "not be safe" in the custody of the MPD, one of the complainants in the criminal case against them.

"The MPD is one of the complainants in the above-entitled case and thus, the MPD is not and can not be an objective and independent custodian of our children, thereby posing imminent danger to the lives of our children," the letter said.

The communication further claimed MPD operatives "forcibly entered" the house of fraternity member Ralph Trangia in Meycauayan City, Bulacan, last Thursday night in order to arrest him.

"In so acting, the operatives of the MPD did not present any warrant of arrest neither did they present search warrant allowing them to enter the house of accused Trangia," the letter said.

They pointed out that MPD operatives cannot enter Trangia's house without a search warrant, and that the police and their higher officers are "obviously criminally and administratively liable" for their action.

The parents of the accused also said they are reserving the right to file complaints against the cops and their commanding officers before the Office of the Ombudsman for Military and other Law Enforcement Officers.

"We wish that you will not place the safety and lives of our children under imminent danger by allowing the transfer of their custody to MPD," the letter said.

The 10 voluntarily surrendered to the NBI last Friday morning after being ordered arrested by a Manila judge the previous day. —KBK, GMA News