Aegis Juris frat member reaches out to DOJ
Carmina and Horacio Tomas Castillo Jr. said their son attended the fraternity's "welcoming ceremonies". EDD GUMBAN, file
MANILA, Philippines – A member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity has reached out to the Department of Justice to shed light on the case of Horacio Castillo III, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.
In a text message, Aguirre a student of the University of Santo Tomas has also gotten in touch with the department.
Castillo's parents said that their first-year law student son asked permission to attend the welcoming ceremonies of the Aegis Juris Fraternity on Saturday but he never came home.
His lifeless body was found in Tondo, Manila on Sunday morning although police dispute this. John Paul Solano, the man who said that he brought Castillo to the hospital after finding him on a sidewalk in the Tondo district, is now one of the primary suspects in the case.
The Justice chief refused to give additional information on the two potential witnesses. “They are afraid for their life,” he added.
READ: Witnesses in Horacio Castillo slay can get DOJ protection
This comes after Aguirre offered government protection to those who have information on the ongoing probe of the apparent fatal hazing of Castillo.
The Department has also set up a created a hotline for those who wish to come forward. They may contact 0995 442 9241.
Aguirre however said that the two have yet to execute an affidavit to make their statements official.
An affidavit is a requirement to be considered under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program.
WPP is a program under the DOJ. It was established under Republic Act No. 6981, The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act to “encourage a person who has witnessed or has knowledge of the commission of a crime to testify before a court or quasi-judicial body, or before an investigating authority, by protecting him from reprisals and from economic dislocation.”
One of the primary suspects in the case, Ralph Caballes Trangia, fled the country on September 19.
Aguirre has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation, the agency conducting a separate probe on the matter, to coordinate with the Interpol to locate Trangia.
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