DOJ issues lookout order for frat members linked to UST law student Atio Castillo’s death

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday ordered Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel to monitor the whereabouts of 16 members of the fraternity linked to the death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio Tomas Castillo III.

Included in the immigration lookout bulletin order are Aegis Juris fraternity members Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Marc Anthony Ventura, Axel Mundo Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Jason Adolfo Robiños, and Ralph Trangia.

Completing the list are Ranie Rafael Santiago, Danielle Hans Mattew Rodrigo, Carl Mattew Villanueva, Aeron Salientes, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro, Jose Miguel Salamat and John Paul Solano.

"As of the moment, the ILBO is the least we can do. We condemn the death of Mr. Horacio Tomas Castillo III," Aguirre said.

"I call upon the persons named in the ILBO or anyone who has knowledge of what happened to [Mr. Horacio Tomas Castillo III] to come forward and to clear their names and share what they know," he added.

Of the 16 individuals, only Solano, the person who claimed to have brought Castillo to the hospital, has been named by the Manila Police District (MPD) a principal suspect in the 22-year-old's death so far.

The MPD earlier found inconsistencies between Solano's testimony and the accounts of officials of Barangay 133 in Manila, where Solano claimed he found Castillo's body on a sidewalk.

"As you can see, we have strong evidence that Mr. John Paul Solano deliberately, intentionally and maliciously gave false statements to the Manila Police District relative to the investigation of the Horacio Castillo killing," MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel said.

Castillo is believed to have succumbed to a massive heart attack after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity on Saturday night.

Authorities have confirmed that he died as a result of extensive injuries due to hazing.

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

Aguirre had already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the incident and file charges against those who may have had a hand in  Castillo's death.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also filed a resolution seeking an inquiry for the purpose of amending the Anti-Hazing Law.

"I appeal to all my colleagues at the House of Representatives and the Senate, let us pass the amendments of the Anti-Hazing Law so that we put closure to all these deaths and make no other child from our families suffer the same fate," Zubiri said on Tuesday.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, meanwhile, does not see the need for the House of Representatives to conduct its own probe into the incident.

He said authorities are already looking into Castillo's death.

"Crime ito eh. Imbestigahan na lang nila [authorities] 'yan," Alvarez said at a media forum in Manila.

Alvarez also assured that any proposal to amend the Anti-Hazing Law would be studied by the House.  — RSJ/KVD, GMA News