Prosecution ordered to comment on Aegis Juris members seeking bail, nullification of charges
University of Santo Tomas students light candles for law student Horacio Castillo III during a ceremony at the campus plaza. The STAR/Miguel de Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The Manila court handling the case against accused Aegis Juris Fraternity members ordered the state prosecution to comment on their motions filed against anti-hazing charges on Horacio "Atio" Castillo's death.
On Friday, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan gave the public prosecutor until Monday to comment on the Omnibus Motion filed by the accused regarding their anti-hazing charge.
Accused Alex Munro Hipe and Oliver John Audrey Onofre filed the following motions:
- To allow accused to post bail
- To disqualify Mark Ventura's as state witness
- To quash information (charge sheet)
Ventura, also a member of the fraternity, earlier sought the Department of Justice to apply to become a state witness in the case.
State prosecutors said that his testimony was vital in indicting the members.
Accused Mark Trangia, meanwhile, filed a motion seeking to suspend the issuance of warrant arrest.
The Manila court, on Thursday afternoon, ordered the arrest of ten members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. The court said: "Upon personal evaluation of the resolution of the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors as well as all the supporting evidence on record, this Court finds probable cause and that there is a necessity for placing all the accused under custody in order not to frustrate the ends of justice."
READ: Warrant of arrest out for Aegis Juris members
Should the prosecution fail to file its comment, the court will deem the above mentioned motions submitted for resolution.
All ten accused in the case of Castillo are currently under the National Bureau of Investigation.
NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said that the ten underwent booking procedure upon arriving at the NBI office in Manila.
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