MPD wants to pursue case vs. personalities not indicted for Atio Castillo death

The Manila Police District (MPD) on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to indict the 11 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity, but said they will continue to pursue the case against personalities who were not included in the charges. 

MPD spokesperson Superintendent Edwin Margarejo said the DOJ resolution "only shows that there is probable cause meaning that there is a need for a court trial to ferret out the truth" on freshman law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo's death.

"Although some personalities were not included in the information, it is only just a temporary setback on our side but we will assure the family of Atio that we will continue to pursue this case till the end in the interest of justice," he added.

In a 49-page resolution dated March 6, the DOJ said it found probable cause to indict 10 Aegis Juris members for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law. It has also recommended charging John Paul Solano with perjury and obstruction of justice.

DOJ Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr., however, said that homicide charges were not among the charges recommended against the respondents.

Charges against 10 other respondents and the Aegis Juris Foundation were dismissed for lack of probable cause, while those against UST law dean Nilo Divina and law faculty secretary Arthur Capili were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

The charges against Mark Anthony Ventura, who is under the government's witness protection program, were also dismissed.

Castillo, a freshman UST law student, died of “severe blunt traumatic injuries” after attending the “welcoming rites” of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. — RSJ, GMA News