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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, October 27, 2017
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MANILA – Suspect-turned-witness Marc Anthony Ventura implicated 24 people in the death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday.
In a six-page affidavit filed at the Justice department, Ventura identified the 24 people to be present at the Aegis Jvris fraternity library during the hazing rites where Castillo allegedly died on Sept. 17.
Those Ventura named were Edric Pilapil, Zach Abulencia, Daniel Ragos, Dave Felix, Sam Cagalingan, Alex Cairo, Luis Kapulong, Kim Cyrill Roque, Ged Villanueva, Arvin Balag, Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan;
Daniel Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Karl Matthew Villanueva, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Axel Munro Hipe, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro, Jose Miguel Salamat, Leo Lalusis, Robin Ramos, and Alex Bose and his female companion.
Ventura alleged that Abulencia, Ragos, Cagalingan, Cairo, Kapulong, and Pilapil punched Castillo’s arms while making him sing the Aegean Hymn.
John Paul Solano, meanwhile, was not present at the initiation rites until fraternity members called him when Castillo lost consciousness, claimed Ventura.
Ventura was admitted into the Justice department’s witness protection program after narrating what happened during Castillo’s initiation, Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier said.
Ventura and 17 other Aegis Jvris fraternity members were facing charges for murder; violation of Republic Act No. 8049, which regulates hazing; perjury; robbery; and obstruction of justice. But Ventura may be spared for giving the testimony.
At least 10 Aegis Jvris fraternity members actively took part in the initiation rites that did not end until Castillo’s “blood vessels burst,” Aguirre told a news conference.
“He (Castillo) was tortured by more than 10 fraternity members who punched Atio, then hit him with meter-long paddles multiple times, and woke him from unconsciousness with candle drippings in a span of up to four hours,” Aguirre said.
“Merong term na ‘hanggat hindi pumuputok kaniyang braso, tuloy-tuloy lang sila sa suntok,’” he said, citing Ventura’s affidavit. “When his arm muscles bulged, the fraternity members tapped a spatula on his arms to relax the neophyte’s muscles.”
Castillo was supposed to receive 11 paddle hits – one for each of the 11 Aegis Jvris officers and members present – but he collapsed on the fourth hit and died on the fifth, Aguirre said.
“Hindi na niya (Castillo) kaya and he collapsed already. Unintelligible na ang kaniyang response. Umuungol na lang siya,” Aguirre said. “He was given respite, but when he regained his consciousness, pinalo nila ulit at doon na siya nawalan ng malay.”
Fraternity members tried to wake Castillo up with candle drippings, but to no avail, and then he was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital early morning on Sept. 17, Aguirre said./PN
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