Criminal charges were filed on Monday against lead suspect John Paul Solano and Aegis Juris Fraternity members involved in the hazing rites that led to the death of UST Faculty of Civil Law freshman Horacio Castillo III.
The Manila Police District charged Solano with murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law before the Department of Justice.
Aegis Juris Fraternity members facing complaints of murder, violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and robbery were Axel Munro Hipe, Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chang, Marc Anthony Ventura, Oliver John Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Jason Adolfo Robiños, Ralph Trangia, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Danielle Hans Rodrigo, Carl Matthew Villanueva, Aeron Salientes, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro, and Jose Miguel Salamat.
Antonio, Trangia’s father and owner of the vehicle that brought Castillo’s body to Chinese General Hospital last Sept. 17, was charged with murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law. His wife Rosemarie was charged with obstruction of justice for being an accomplice in the escape of her son to Chicago, via Taiwan, on Sept. 19.
Other members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity and its sister organization Regina Legis et Juris Sorority also face charges of murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
Solano surrendered last Sept. 22 to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, accompanied by Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina. He was placed under the Manila police’s custody on the same day.
Salientes went to the police later that day while Robiños appeared in a Senate inquiry today, Sept. 25.
Solano, a medical technology alumnus of UST who is on leave from studies in Civil Law, has claimed he did not take part in the hazing rites. He said he was sought by his fraternity brothers for help because of his background as a medical technologist.
Solano was initially named a witness in the case after he claimed to have found Castillo’s body in Balut, Tondo and brought it to Chinese General Hospital last Sept. 17.
Solano said he was a part-time medical technologist at San Lazaro Hospital but did not mention that he was also a law student in UST.
The Department of Justice issued a lookout order against Solano and 15 other members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity last Sept. 20. With reports from Theodore Jason Patrick K. Ortiz and Jacob Marvin V. Urmenita