Criminal raps filed vs. Solano, 17 others over Atio Castillo hazing death

Police filed on Monday criminal charges with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 18 people in connection with the death of freshman UST law student Horacio Castillo III.

John Paul Solano, who claimed to have brought Castillo to the hospital, was charged with murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law by the Manila Police District (MPD) that took him into custody following his surrender last week.

Facing charges for murder, robbery and violation of Anti-Hazing Law are the following:

• Antonio Trangia
• Ralph Trangia
• Arvin Balag
• Mhin Wei Chan
• Ranie Rafael Santiago
• Oliver John Audrey Onofre
• Jason Adolfo Robiños
• Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo
• Karl Matthew Villanueva
• Joshua Joriel Macabali
• Axel Mundo Hipe
• Marc Anthony Ventura
• Aeron Salientes
• Marcelino Bagtang
• Zimon Padro
• Jose Miguel Salamat
• several unidentified members of Aegis Juris fraternity

Ralph's mother, Rosemarie Trangia, was slapped with a complaint for obstruction of justice.

Only Solano underwent inquest proceedings at the DOJ since the other respondents are considered "at large" by the police.

John Paul Solano, a suspect in the death of Atio Castillo, now at DOJ to undergo inquest proceedings for a complaint to be filed by MPD. pic.twitter.com/deeETdaBl9

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) September 25, 2017

Ralph and his mother Rosemarie fled to the United States last September 19 while Antonio is said to have sent surrender feelers already to the authorities.

During the inquest proceedings, Solano's lawyer, Paterno Esmaquel, asked the DOJ to dismiss the complaint and order Solano's release from detention.

Esmaquel said there is no complex crime of murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and that Solano has been illegally detained considering that the latter was not a subject of warrantless arrest.

"This being so, then the instant case against herein respondent [Solano] and/or any other case against him resulting from the untimely death of the late Horacio is and cannot be proper subject of an inquest proceeding; otherwise there will be an open and gross violation of herein respondent's right to a regular preliminary investigation of the case or cases against him," the motion stated.

"In praying for his immediate release from the custody and detention of the MPD, the herein respondent is merely exercising his constitutional right against unlawful arrest. The herein respondent does not have any intention to escape or flee from justice."

Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva conducted the proceedings which was attended by MPD officers and Castillo's parents, Horacio II and Carminia.

Solano turned himself in to Senator Panfilo Lacson last Friday, days after the MPD announced that the 27-year-old was being considered as the principal suspect in the hazing death of Castillo.

Castillo's parents welcomed Solano's surrender to the authorities, but had said they did not want him to be turned into a state witness.

Solano, previously a "person of interest" in the case, was considered a principal suspect in Castillo's death after discovering that he gave "false statements" to the police.

He said that he found Castillo "half dead" and "unconscious" on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo before bringing him to Chinese General Hospital.

Castillo died after attending the "welcoming rites" of the Aegis Juris fraternity based in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law on September 16. Authorities had confirmed that he died of a massive heart attack possibly due to the injuries he suffered from hazing.

Solano had admitted that he was a member of the fraternity, but said that he did not participate in the initiation rites for Castillo. — RSJ, GMA News