Manila court junks Castillo hazing suspects’ bids to stop arrests

(Eagle News)–The Manila Regional Trial Court has junked the bids of several individuals charged over Horacio Castillo III’s death to stop the issuance of warrants of arrest against them.

Branch 40 Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan denied the bids of Jose Miguel Salamat, Robin Ramos, Marcelino Bagtang and Ralph Trangia, all affiliated with the Aegis Juris fraternity, citing as  basis  a continuous trial.

He said he would therefore proceed to determine whether there was probable cause for the issuance of the same against them, and co-accused Arvin Balag, Oliver John Onofre, Axel Munro Hipe, Mhin Wei Chan,  Danielle Hans Rodrigo and Joshua Joriel Macabali.

The Department of Justice  ordered the indictment of the ten for hazing  following testimony from  Mark Anthony Ventura, who has been admitted to the Witness Protection Program.

Ventura was a member of the fraternity at that time.

Castillo, then a University of Sto. Tomas law freshman student, died after sustaining injuries from hazing rites believed to have been conducted by the Aegis Juris fraternity in September last year.