Ralph Trangia, suspect in Atio Castillo fatal hazing, arrives in Manila

Ralph Trangia, one of the suspects in the death of hazing victim Horacio "Atio" Castillo III, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday morning, radio dzBB Mao dela Cruz reported.

Trangia and his mother, Rosamarie, arrived at 11:41 a.m. Tuesday. They took Eva Air flight BR 271 from Taipei.

They left for Chicago on September 19, a day before Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II placed him and several others on the immigration lookout bulletin.

LOOK: Ralph Trangia, isa sa mga suspek sa pagkasawi ni Horacio Castillo III, dumating na sa bansa. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/FMTJikwKcU

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 10, 2017

Trangia declined to be interviewed upon his arrival.

Manila Police District's homicide division chief Senior Inspector Rommel Anicete said in an interview on radio dzBB that they did not invite Trangia and his mother for questioning.

"Hindi, kahit invitation wala. Nakipag-coordinate lang kami sa kanila para makaharap namin pati lawyer nila. Magre-request lang namin kung gusto nila makapunta sa MPD," Anicete said.

"Hindi namin sila inimbitahan, nagpunta lang kami dito para makita sila, makausap sila. Baka sila ang mag-volunteer," he added.

Anicete said they only offered Trangia and his mother security escort. The two however refused, according to their legal counsel Rowell Ilagan.

Ilagan said they cannot disclose yet where Trangia and his mother's destination will be after their arrival due to "safety and security reasons."

Aguirre earlier said that Trangia may have "opted to return voluntarily rather than be deported," since the US Department of Homeland Security had expressed readiness to help facilitate the deportation of Trangia and his mother.

In an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita, Aguirre said that authorities can only invite Trangia and his mother for questioning as there was no warrant of arrest yet.

"Hindi nila pwedeng arestuhin gawa ng wala namang warrant of arrest kaya ang mangyayari dito ay kakausapin lamang siya ng aming immigration authorities," Aguirre said.

Trangia and his mother are among the 18 individuals charged by the Manila Police District before the Department of Justice.

Trangia is said to be the sergeant-at-arms of the Aegis Juris fraternity.

Castillo died after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity based in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law on September 16.

Authorities had confirmed that he died of a massive heart attack possibly due to the injuries he suffered from hazing.

Aguirre in a statement said Trangia could be a "potential witness," depending on what he would tell the investigators.

"While he may be a suspect as of the moment, depending on what he will tell our investigators, he could be a potential witness. And for this reason, the DOJ offers to him and to his family, the protection of our Witness Protection Program (WPP)," he said.

"I encourage Mr. Trangia and his family to fully cooperate and tell the truth and, as a future lawyer, to work for justice. And I again reiterate the DOJ's invitation to anyone who knows anything about what happened to Mr. Atio Castillo to come forward and to tell the truth. Those who do will find the truth liberating, you cannot live in lies and untruth forever. We are waiting for you," he added.

Trangia's legal counsel, meanwhile, welcomed the offer of Aguirre although they have yet to decide on the matter.

"Hindi namin tinanggihan, the information came from the Immigration officer. We cannot decide yet, we just want the safety and security of our client," Ilagan said. — MDM/KBK, GMA News