(Eagle News) — “I am innocent.”
This was the statement of John Paul Solano, who surrendered on Friday to Senator Panfilo Lacson days after he was named a primary suspect in the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III.
Solano, who was wearing a grey jacket, told reporters he was only called on to give “medical assistance” to Castillo.
He said he was a medical technologist, and filed his leave of absence from the University of Sto. Tomas law school after enrolling there in 2016.
He said he was not part of the hazing rites, but admitted he was a member of the Aegis Juris fraternity.
According to Solano, upon his arrival, he saw Castillo—whom he met only twice, the first time when he asked him his name, and the second in the venue of the hazing rites— already “unconscious” and “half-dead.”
He said he tried to revive Castillo, but to no avail.
“In chaos”
“They were in chaos at that time…I gave him CPR. When I can’t (sic) do anything else, I brought him to the hospital,” Solano said.
He admitted he was the one seen riding a motorcycle behind a red Strada supposedly carrying Castillo in footage from closed-circuit television camera shown to the media.
He admitted he was also the Popoy being referred to in an exchange of messages retrieved by the police among the fraternity members.
“First of all, I would like to apologize for giving a false statement to the family of Atio and for the death of their son,” he said.
Solano earlier claimed he only found Castillo’s body on a pavement in Tondo, Manila, over the weekend.
But Barangay 133 officials disputed his account, noting that no body was found at the time Solano said he made the discovery.
The barangay officials based this on footage from a closed-circuit television camera in the area.
According to Solano, he came out in the open because “it is getting worse.”
“But my involvement was to give medical assistance,” he noted.
Solano was turned over to the MPD, which said he would be under their custody.
Supt. Erwin Margarejo, MPD spokesperson, later said in a press conference that Solano would be inquested for perjury, and for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
“It is the court who (sic) will evaluate the degree of participation ng suspect–whether he is an accomplice, accessory or a principal suspect,” he said.
Video by Jerold Tagbo, Eagle News Service:
