WPP offer for Trangia stands: Aguirre

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said Ralph Trangia, one of primary suspects in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, had yet to respond whether he would have himself placed under government protection.

“Not yet,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a text message responding to queries on whether Trangia has already responded to the offer to place him under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Aguirre earlier said Trangia could become a witness in the case depending on what he would tell the investigators.

“While he may be a suspect as of the moment, depending on what he will tell our investigators, he could be a potential witness. And for this reason, the DOJ offers to him and to his family, the protection of our Witness Protection Program,” Aguirre said after Trangia arrived in the country last October 10 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on board flight BR 271 from Taipei.

Trangia, along with her mother Rosemarie, left the country for the United States last September 19.

Trangia together with several others are facing murder, robbery, and anti-hazing law charges.

Aguirre is hoping that the member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity and the Trangia family will cooperate and tell the truth regarding the incident.

“I encourage Mr. Trangia and his family to fully cooperate, to tell the truth and, as a future lawyer, to work for justice. And I again reiterate the DOJ’s invitation to anyone who knows anything about what happened to Mr. Atio Castillo to come forward and to tell the truth,” he added.

The Manila Police District (MPD) also included in its complaint Trangia’s father, Antonio, the registered owner of the red Strada pick-up vehicle supposedly used to bring Castillo’s body to Chinese General Hospital following the initiation rites that led to his death.

Last October 9, Atio’s parents, Horacio II and Carmina, filed supplemental complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina, and members of Aegis Juris Fraternity as respondents in the case.

The supplemental complaints were filed for violating Republic Act 2049, the Anti-Hazing Law; murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); four counts of perjury under Article 183 of the RPC; and obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829 against trustees of the Aegis Juris Foundation Inc. including Divina and Arthur Capili.

Atio’s parents also included in the complaint Vicente Garcia, owner of the building where Atio’s alleged hazing took place.

The complainants also included as respondents the trustees of the Aegis Foundation, namely: William S. Merginie, Cezar N. Tirol, Oscar T. Ce, Alexander J. Flores, Alvin S. Dysangco, Henry C. Pablo, Gabrial T. Robeniol, Michael Joseph G. Fernandez, Allan Christopher S. Agati, Paulino L. Yusi, Arnel Bernardo and Edwin C. Uy. Both Divina and Capili are also trustees, based on the complaint.

The supplemental complaint also named 20 respondents, including Aegis Juris fratman Solano; Trangia, Trangia’s mother Rosemarie, Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Marc Anthony Ventura, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Jason Adolfo Robinos, Lennert Bryan Galicia, Nathan Anarna, Robin Ramos, Leo Lalusis, Jose Miguel Salamat, Ranie Santiago, Karl Matthew Villanueva, Marcelino Bactang, and Chuck Salazar.

They are already included in the previous similar complaint filed by the MPD.

The DoJ investigating panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva gave the respondents until October 24 to file their respective counter-affidavits while those named in the supplemental complaints were given until October 30 to file their respective counter-affidavits.

The DOJ will resume its preliminary investigation hearing on the complaint on October 24.

Castillo died after attending the “welcoming rites” of the said fraternity last September 16.

Authorities had confirmed that the cause of his death was a massive heart attack possibly due to the injuries he suffered from hazing. (PNA)