QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, October 4, started its preliminary investigation on the death of University of Sto. Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio Castillo III during hazing rites.
John Paul Solano, the main suspect attended the preliminary investigation.
Solano is a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity and one of those who brought Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital.
Solano along with 16 other members of the Aegis Juris have been charged with murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery, and violation of the anti-hazing law.
Castillo is a freshman UST law student who died due to the severe injuries he sustained during the “welcoming rites” of the Aegis Juris fraternity on September 17.
DOJ Assistant Prosecutor Susan Villanueva chaired the panel of prosecutors handling the case.
During the preliminary investigation on Wednesday, she gave the complainants until Monday, Oct. 9, to submit their supplemental evidence, while she gave the respondents until Oct. 24 to file their counter-affidavits.
The Castillo family’s lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said they are considering including in the complaint the Civil Law Dean of the University Sto. Tomas Nilo Divina who is a top alumnus of the Aegis Juris fraternity,
They also want to include other UST officials connected to the fraternity.
Kapunan said that they would also include the transcript of Senate hearings investigating the incident in their case, as there were pronouncements made during the hearing that would bolster their case.
Meanwhile, Solano’s lawyer, Atty. Paterno Esmaquel, who is one of the fraternity founders, filed a motion to strike out Solano’s judicial affidavit dated September 17.
The Manila Police District, through its counsel, said it would submit the sworn affidavits of witnesses and additional evidence on the case, including those given by the telecommunication companies, and the DNA tests done by the police at the library of the Aegis Juris fraternity where the alleged hazing took place.
(Eagle News Service)