DOJ wraps up probe on Atio Castillo fatal hazing case
The body of twenty-two year old Horacio "Atio" Castillo III's was brought to the Chinese General Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. His body was covered in blanket, sustained contusions in the upper arms and candle burn marks. Photo from Horacio Tomas Castillo III's Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice has wrapped up its preliminary investigation on the fatal hazing case of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio "Atio" Castillo III.
Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva and Assistant Prosecutor Attorney II Wendell Bendoval moved to submit the case for resolution after the clarificatory hearing on Monday afternoon.
Aegis Juris Fraternity member and state witness Mark Ventura faced the tate prosecutors to answer clarificatory questions on his filed testimony that detailed the initiation rites of Castillo.
According to Ventura, Castillo was punched and paddled until he was black and blue with bruises by his would-be fraternity brothers.
READ: Punched until swollen the paddled: Fratman recounts Atio's fatal hazing
The DOJ first terminated the probe in November last year, but following the submission of Ventura's affidavit on January, the state prosecutors moved to reopen the case to include Ventura's testimony in the probe.
'Solano helped revive Castillo'
According to Ventura, respondent John Paul Solano may have had no knowledge of Castillo's initiation rites prior to his arrival in the scene.
Solano was the first among the members of the fraternity to submit himself to the authorities following the death of Castillo. He claimed that he was only called in to help in trying to revive the neophyte.
It was Solano who brought Castillo's lifeless body to the Chinese General Hospital on September 17 last year.
READ: Atio died due to hazing? Fratmen say that's 'out of this world'
Ventura said that it is possible that Solano's only participation was after he was called to help revive Castillo.
Affirming Solano's earlier testimony, Ventura said that he said he saw Solano talking to someone on the phone while trying to revive Castillo.
Solano, in his defense before the state prosecutors, said that hazing is 'not enough' to kill Castillo. He also said that a pre-existing heart condition killed Castillo, and not hours enduring punches and paddling by fraternity members.
The case stemmed from the murder, anti-hazing, robbery and perjury complaints filed by the Manila Police District and parents of Castillo.
Castillo was a 22-year-old freshman law student of the UST. He was laid to rest on September 27 at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
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