Atio’s mom says Ralph Trangia ‘clearly’ trying to escape

Ralph Trangia, a suspect in the hazing death of Horacio Castillo III, was trying to escape when he fled for the United States, the mother of the freshman law student said Wednesday.

"He's trying to escape. You can buy a ticket but you must have a return date. You cannot buy a ticket one way. I don't know his plans but clearly he's trying to escape," Carminia Castillo said in an interview on ANC.

Castillo believed what prompted Trangia and his mother, Rosemarie, to return to the country on Tuesday was “pressure put on the family.”

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

The mother and son are facing charges before the Department of Justice over the death of Castillo, who apparently succumbed to injuries caused by brutal hazing rites by the University of Santo Tomas-based Aegis Juris fraternity on September 17.

Following Ralph Trangia’s return, Aguirre said he is 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)," the Justice chief said.

"I encourage Mr. Trangia and his family to fully cooperate and tell the truth and, as a future lawyer, to work for justice,” Aguirre added.

Aguirre also reiterated the DOJ's invitation to anyone who knows anything about what happened to Castillo to come forward and to tell the truth. —ALG, GMA News