Court convicts Aegis Juris member of obstruction of justice

A Manila court has found John Paul Solano,  a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, guilty of obstruction of justice — the first conviction in the Atio Castillo hazing case.

The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 on Monday sentenced Solano to two to four years in prison. The same court acquitted him of perjury.

It was Solano who brought an unconscious Castillo from the frat library to the Chinese General Hospital, where the 22-year-old law student was declared dead on arrival, on Sept. 17, 2017.

He initially told police that he found Castillo lying on the road and covered with a blanket.

Solano told the Department of Justice during investigation that Arvin Balag, another fraternity member, instructed him to say he found Castillo in Tondo — a story he said he stuck to out of pressure and fear. He repeated this claim in court.

In its 27-page ruling, the court said "it is clear that [Solano] gave false and fabricated information to mislead the police or prevent them from apprehending those responsible for the death of Castillo."

Solano also failed to persuade the court that he lied to the police without any intention to mislead them, because of fear of being implicated in the crime, and under Balag's orders, ruling that: "[n]othing would prevent him from refusing to follow the supposed instructions or get lost in the hospital or from speaking the truth to the police officers who arrived to investigate."

The court said Solano's fear of being implicated in Castillo's death is "not imminent" and "speculative." "Thus, his defense that he acted under the impulse of uncontrollable fear for his life or limb has no leg to stand on."

Acquitted of perjury

Meanwhile, the court acquitted Solano of perjury upon finding inconsistencies in the accounts of the police officers who signed his judicial affidavit.

The court said it "entertains reasonable doubt" that Solano took an oath before Police Senior Inspector Rommel Anicete, the officer who supposedly administered it. That a statement is made under oath is one of the four elements of the crime of perjury.

"Consequently, that part of the first element of the offense that the accused made a statement under oath was not proven beyond reasonable doubt," the court said.

Ten other Aegis Juris members face hazing charges before the Manila Regional Trial Court, which is still hearing their petition to be allowed to post bail. They have been detained at the city jail since May 2018.

"We have a first conviction, obstruction. At least totoo 'yung sinasabi namin, napatunayan na talagang may sala sila sa obstruction. They concealed," Castillo's mother, Carminia, told reporters after the promulgation of judgment.

In a separate phone interview on Balitanghali, Carminia said their family was  relieved over Solano's conviction.

"Well, we're very happy na nahatulan siya ng obstruction kasi this proves na mayroon talagang intention ang Aegis Juris fraternity to cover up the crime," she said.

Carminia and her husband, Horacio Jr., said they intend to file more cases against other fraternity men, including those in the group chat where they supposedly discussed covering up the crime.

"Definitely magpa-file pa kami ng additional cases doon sa pinangalanan ng aming witness. Meron kasi doon na kasama sa planning, sa final rites pero di namin na-charge-an," Carminia said.

The couple said the University of Santo Tomas has been "silent" on the case. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/DVM, GMA News