‘Person of interest’ in Atio Castillo death may face perjury raps —police

The man who brought hazing victim Horacio "Atio" Castillo III to the hospital could face perjury charges after investigators found inconsistencies in his statement.

"He's already a person of interest. His statement is under oath. We can file appropriate perjury charges against John Paul Solano" said Manila Police District (MPD) spokesman Erwin Margarejo, referring to what the police consider now as a "person of interest" in the case.

Solano had claimed to have found Castillo's body on the sidewalk at the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Balut, Tondo, on Sunday morning. Barangay officials, however, had issued a certificate saying no body was found in the area.

Castillo, a 22-year-old University of Santo Tomas (UST) student, died after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity on Saturday night. Police had confirmed that he died due to hazing.

"Well, kakasuhan natin siya (Solano) considering [na] dinispute na nung barangay ['yung sinabi niya]," Margarejo said.

"Kaya, definitely under oath 'yung iyong testimony. If it is under oath, sinumpaan mo 'yan tapos biglang dinispute ng baranggay through CCTV eh di siguro naman the video will always speak for itself," he added.

Authorities are also verifying reports that Solano is indeed a law student, as claimed by staff of the San Lazaro Hospital where Castillo's body was brought.

Castillo's family learned about the incident when his mother Carminia Castillo had received an anonymous text message saying that her son was brought to Chinese General Hospital.

The UST, for its part, vowed to investigate the incident.

Members of the Aegis Juris fraternity were also suspended by the UST Faculty of the Civil Law. —KBK, GMA News