Manila police still monitoring other suspects in Atio hazing

The Manila Police District is still monitoring intelligence information to ascertain the locations of the other suspects in the hazing of fraternity neophyte Horacio "Atio" Castillo III, three weeks after his death.

Pressed for the whereabouts of other suspects in the hazing, MPD Spokesperson Police Superintendent Erwin Margarejo told Ivan Mayrina on "Unang Balita" on Wednesday, "Continues po yung intelligence monitoring dito sa mga members ng Aegis Juris fraternity."

On Tuesday, hazing suspect Ralph Trangia returned to Manila from the United States after staying in Chicago for weeks.

Only two suspects have have surfaced so far: John Paul Solano and  Ralph Trangia, while 16 others have remained at large.

Margarejo said the Castillo family's lawyer has filed a supplemental complaint, this time with more respondents named.

"As a matter of fact, nag-file po ng supplemental complaint si Atty. Lorna Kapunan, yung abogado po ng pamilya Castillo, at yan po ay nasa DOJ na.  Dun po sa kanyang supplemental complaint ay nadagdagan pa po yung ibang respondents," said Margarejo.

He assured the public that MPD is still gathering evidence to aid the investigation into Atio's death.

"Although naka-file na po yung kaso sa Department of Justice, pero ang Manila Police District will continue to gather evidence para as soon as possible maiakyat yung information sa korte." 

The pieces of evidence include the items found during the police search of the Aegis Juris fraternity library.

Margarejo said that they are still waiting for the results of the forensic examination, as well as for cyber evidence, or the online or digital trails of the fraternity members. 

"We are still waiting doon sa forensic result ... as well as the cyber evidence, dahil aside from the forensic evidence, it's a public knowledge na may mga cellphone o social media na conversation yung mga members ng Aegis Juris Fraternity." 

Also, he maintained that the MPD is standing by the validity of the library search.

Meanwhile, Trangia's camp is reported to be seeking the rendering as inadmissible the evidence found in the library search.

"Sinabi ko na po kahapon na the Manila Police District will always stand by the validity of the search that was conducted in the frat library. It's up to the judicial authorities to evaluate, assess or decide, whether or not the search is valid," Margarejo said. 

Ralph Trangia as state witness?

Trangia, the second hazing suspect to surface, returned to the Philippines at 11:41 a.m. on October 10. He was not issued an arrest warrant.

"Wala naman pong issuance of warrant of arrest; the mere fact na naka-file na yung kaso sa Department of Justice, nag-lapse na po yung hot pursuit operation ng Manila Police District," said Margarejo.

Also, the MPD is no longer expecting any  statement from Trangia, after his lawyer declined to communicate with the MPD Homicide Section.

Trangia's official statement would now come from his counter-affidavit, Margarejo added.

Margarejo declined to reveal the MPD's position on the possibility of allowing Trangia to become a state witness.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made a remark that Trangia's becoming a state witness would depend on the statements he will give authorities.

"Just in case po, kung siya ay magiging state witness, depende po yan sa mga salaysay na kaniyang ibibigay doon sa kaniyang partisipasyon sa nangyaring pagkamatay ni Mr. Horacio Castillo III," Margarejo said.

Margarejo also refused to reveal Trangia's participation in Castillo's death.

"Hindi natin pwedeng i-disclose kung ano yung kanilang naging participation considering na hanggang sa ngayon ongoing yung preliminary investigation na isinasagawa ng Department of Justice," he said. —LBG, GMA News