UST law dean to surrender Aegis brod in hazing case to Ping Lacson

University of Santo Tomas (UST) Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina is set to turn over suspect John Paul Solano to Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate public order committee tasked to investigate the death of freshman law student Horacio Tomas "Atio" Castillo III.

“Solano is on his way to my office in BGC (Bonifacio Global City) to present himself. He is accompanied by dean Divina,” Lacson said in a text message.

Lacson said he will then turn over Solano to Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel.

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

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.

Solano, previously considered a "person of interest" in the case, is now considered a principal suspect in Castillo's death.

In a television interview, Divina said his father and that of Solano are good friends.

“I asked him how he’s doing, sabi niya, okay siya...I said how are you? ‘Okay po, Dean’ and I assured him that he will be brought to the office of the good senator,” Divina said.

Divina said other members of the Aegis Juris fraternity have “sent feelers to likewise surrender.”

Lacson meanwhile said a former Senate staff called him up to coordinate Solano’s request to present himself to the senator.

“Sabi ko okay lang pero yun nga eventually, yung position ko turn over ko siya sa MPD, that’s why Coronel is here,” Lacson said.

“Interested din ako kasi sa Monday naka-schedule ako ng hearing on bills on anti-hazing law and kasama sa privilege speech sa hazing,” he added.

The Senate public order committee has scheduled a 6 p.m. hearing on September 25 on the privilege speech of Senator Miguel Zubiri condemning the death of Castillo.

Several senators, including Zubiri,  also want Dean Divina, a member of Aegis Juris fraternity himself, to attend the probe.  —NB/KVD, GMA News