Aegis Juris member becomes witness in Castillo case

FILE: Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said on Wednesday a member of the Aegis Juris fraternity who participated in the initiation rites for University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has become a state witness. (Photo: ALBERT ALCAIN/Presidential Photo)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said on Wednesday a member of the Aegis Juris fraternity who participated in the initiation rites for University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has become a state witness.

Mark Ventura, a former officer of Aegis Juris, was accompanied by his mother and lawyer in a meeting with Aguirre and officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday as he disclosed information on Castillo’s slay case.

Ventura is one of the 17 respondents facing several complaints filed by the Manila Police District (MPD) and Castillo’s parents over the law student’s death.

“Mr. Ventura narrated to us what he knew about what happened to Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III from the time of his admission as a neophyte of the Aegis Juris Fraternity until his initiation rites on the early morning of September 17, 2017,” Justice Secretary said in a press conference.

“He narrated to us what he know about what happened to Atio… Mr. Ventura gave us the names. After hearing the names, I immediately decided to place him under provisional acceptance of WPP (Witness Protection Program),” he added.

Aguirre said that Ventura’s decision to ask for admission into their WPP is a most welcome development in Castillo’s case as they try to give justice to the law student’s untimely death, adding that Ventura was the only one who decided to avail state protection that was offered to anyone who has knowledge of the incident.

“Siguro [Maybe] if we need somebody else from among those who witnessed the initiation rites baka isa na lang [probably just one] to be covered by the WPP just to corroborate, pero yung linaw ng kanyang deklarasyon [but his comprehensive declaration], even without any corroborative testimony, I believe that his statement will stand in court,” Aguirre added.

An ongoing preliminary investigation on the complaints is conducted by a three-man panel to find out whether accusations should be filed against the suspects in court.

The justice chief said that Ventura told him he is ready to face the consequences of his disclosure. Aguirre added that he has personally notified Castillo’s parents of Ventura’s voluntary act, and that the law student’s parents were “happy” to hear of the development.

Castillo lost consciousness

According to a report by CNN, Aguirre said Ventura can be seen inside the Aegis Juris fraternity library during initiation rites for Castillo that started at 1 o’ clock in the afternoon of September 16.

Ventura narrated that Castillo was maltreated by more than 10 fraternity members who punched the law student, following multiple hit using paddles. Ventura said members of the fraternity woke Castillo from unconsciousness through candle drippings which lasted for four hours.

“Merong term na ‘hanggat hindi pumuputok kaniyang braso, tuloy-tuloy lang sila sa suntok [There’s a term that as long as his (Castillo’s) arm hasn’t not busted, they will continue to punch],” Aguirre said, pointing out the fraternity’s initiation rites.

A spatula then was tapped on Castillo’s arm to relax the newcomer’s muscles.

The Justice Secretary said Castillo was expected to take 11 hits using a paddle coming from 11 Aegis Juris officers and members who took part in the initiation rites.

On the third time the paddle slapped, Ventura stressed to Aguirre that Castillo was asked if he could still resist the punishment which Castillo answered to with a “yes.”

Ventura told Aguirre that the fourth time the paddle struck Castillo, the law student collapsed, adding that Castillo was not able to withstand the hazing rites and his response were incomprehensible.

Aguirre uttered that members of the fraternity gave Castillo a “respite from the paddling.” However, when he recovered from unconsciousness, they hit him with paddle for the fifth time and that was when Castillo fully lost his consciousness.

After he passed out, Aguirre said a candle was dribbled over Castillo’s body to stir him.