The Senate made public on Wednesday the testimony of John Paul Solano, the prime suspect in the death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. Six Aegis Juris “brothers” involved in the fatal hazing were named by Solano.
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, at the resumption of their probe, pushed through with disclosing the information given to them by Solano during an executive session last September 25.
Solano pleaded to reconsider the resolution authorizing the release of his knowledge on the killing. In a three-page letter, Solano denied fault over his non-filing of his sworn affidavits at the Department of Justice (DOJ) even as two preliminary investigations were already held.
Solano maintained he was “willing and ready” to submit his sworn statements in reply to the murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery, and violation of anti-hazing law cases against him and the other suspects but deferred after Castillo’s parents announced filing supplemental cases “without prior notice.”
“Had the complainants not requested for time to file Supplemental Complaints, I had filed before the Honorable Panel of Prosecutors last October 4, 2017 my Counter-Affidavit and the Affidavits of my witnesses as well as the evidence,” he emphasized in his letter.
Solano’s camp had offered to submit the requested affidavit at the next premilinary investigations on October 24 and October 30.
But senators were obviously irritated over Solano’s reason and said he had been “disrespecting” the Senate for his delaying tactics. Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the public order committee, denied his appeal.
In his September 25 confession, Solano maintained that Aegis Juris asked him to respond to an unconscious Castillo on that morning of September 27.
He said it was Oliver John “OJ” Onofre who called him around 6:30 a.m. to proceed to their fraternity library, or “frat lib” near the University of the Sto. Tomas (UST) campus in Sampaloc, Manila. He said he declined at first as he supposedly had to work at his father’s clinic on same morning but was prompted to go when Onofre told him someone had collapsed.
Arriving at the frat lib two hours later, Solano said he was greeted by Axel Hipe, who “opened the door” for him. He then found inside Aegis Juris “grand prefectus” (GP) Arvin Balag, member Mark Anthony Ventura, and 22-year-old Castillo, who lay unconscious on the floor.
He also mentioned a certain “Zach” and “Dan” whom his brothers also called to proceed to the frat lib. Lacson later identified them as Zachary Abolencia and Daniel Ragos.
Solano said he tried to wake Castillo by calling him by his name “Hor” – as he was supposedly told – and slapping him. He recalled that Castillo had “very little” pupils and was not breathing, so he decided to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, which failed, as he did not get a response.
The people Solano named were his co-respondents in the cases before the DOJ and were told to appear in the Wednesday’s hearing, except for Abolencia.
Balag, Onofre, Hipe, and Ventura attended the hearing but refused to confirm Solano’s statements by invoking their right to self-incrimination.
Solano, meanwhile, spared Jason Robiños, who was reportedly confined for his diabetes at the time, and Ralph Trangia, despite attempting to escape to the United States.
He said Trangia’s driver Romeo Laboga drove Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital using the red pick-up supposedly owned by his father Antonio Trangia.
Asked by senators, Trangia denied being in the frat lib, and denied his father’s ownership of the pick-up car plated ZTU-529, despite the LTO’s confirmation it was registered to them.
Trangia’s parents Antonio and Rosemarie, appearing in the hearing, also invoked their right against self-incrimination when asked about the car and why they helped their son hide.
Solano said more members may be involved and may have left the Aegis Juris office before he arrived.
Other fraternity members summoned to the Senate hearing namely, Aeron Salientes, Mhin Wei Chan, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Zimon Padro, and Jose Miguel Salamat, opted to be silent about their involvement and insisted on their right against self-incrimination.
But of the Aegis Juris members, only Salamat, Prado and Robiños expressed willingness to undergo DNA testing. The Manila Police District (MPD) earlier found paddles and forensic evidence such as body fluids, fibers, and fingerprints that could be used to identify those present in the fatal initiation rites.
Solano admitted that he tried to evade arrest when news reports that the MPD uncovered his “good Samaritan” façade and started implicating him in the death of Castillo.
Solano said he sensed that authorities found out that he lied about his discovery of Castillo on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo last September 17 when he received a call from the MPD following up the next day.
“Nasa isip ko na kapag nagpunta ako doon, hindi ako makakabalik. Malamang custodial interrogation na itong mangyayari sa akin,” he said in his testimony in the executive session.
He said he was in a mall in Pasay during the call, so, out of fear, he boarded a bus bound for Tarlac City, then to Pangasinan, and to a barrio, and slept on sidewalks, waiting sheds, and benches outside schools. He added that he stayed on the move to avoid being recognized by people.
Solano said he threw his phone along the way, when several unknown numbers were already calling him. He bought a cellphone with his remaining P700, and finally decided to contact “Tatay Divina” to say he was “tired” of running and hiding.
UST Civil Law dean Nilo Divina said Solano was referring to his father who forwarded the wanted suspect to him.
The Senate, at the hearing, cited in contempt Balag for his repeated refusal to answer questions.
Balag was pointed by Solano as the one who insisted to bring Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital (CGH) and not the UST Hospital which was only 10-15 minutes away from the Aegis Juris frat lib. He was also believed to have driven the black vehicle that led their convoy to the CGH.
Solano said it was Balag who also ordered him to lie about his statements and be left at the CGH. Balag did not confirm or deny Solano’s claims but invoked again his right against self-incrimination.
Lacson finally ordered Balag’s arrest when he refused to respond to Sen. Grace Poe’s asking what was his position at the Aegis Juris. Poe cited several documents of the Aegis Juris with Balag’s signature as GP, or head of the fraternity.
“Nandyan na, tinatanggi mo pa…Why would it incriminate you?” Lacson told Balag, while reminding him that he was being given a chance by undergoing an executive session. In defense, Balag said his admission of his position in the Aegis Juris was “part of the element” of the cases filed against him. “Pasensya na po talaga,” he answered Lacson.
But in the later part of the Senate inquiry, Balag retracted. He apologized to the senators and admitted that he was indeed a member. It was too late, however, as the public order panel was already bent on detaining him.
Lacson said Balag will be held at the Senate Office of the Sergeant At Arms (OSAA) until he speaks up on his involvement in Castillo’s death. The former police chief warned that Balag may be transferred to Pasay City Jail should he continue to resist.
