(Eagle News) — One of the primary suspects in the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III arrived in the country on Tuesday.
Ralph Trangia set foot at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Taipei, Taiwan before lunch.
He was accompanied by his mother, Rosemarie.
The younger Trangia, who left for the United States in September, refused to give media interviews, but his lawyer, Rowell Ilagan, told reporters they would submit their counter-affidavits during the preliminary investigation on Oct. 24.
He added that they had not yet decided on whether they would accept the Department of Justice’s offer for his client to be under the witness protection program.
“Our concern now is our client’s safety and security,” he said.
Apart from Trangia, named as primary suspects in the death of Castillo–a University of Sto. Tomas freshman law student—was his father, Antonio, under whose name the vehicle used to take the hazing victim to the hospital was registered.
A third primary suspect, John Paul Solano, has surrendered to the Office of Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Solano had initially claimed he found Castillo in a street corner in Manila, but this was disputed by barangay officials, who noted that based on footage from a closed-circuit television camera, there was no body in the place and time Solano said he made the discovery.
Solano later admitted he lied, but denied he took part in the Aegis Juris fraternity hazing rites that eventually led to Castillo’s death.
Also named suspects in Castillo’s death are other officials of the fraternity who are enrolled in the University of Sto. Tomas.
Also included by Castillo’s parents in the charge sheet was UST Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina and other university officials.