MANILA, Philippines — Authorities think there is a cover-up in the slay of Horacio Tomas Castillo III because the man who brought the University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student to the hospital had deliberately misinformed the police on what really happened to the victim, hours after he told his parents that he would attend a welcome ceremony for new members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.
John Paul Sarte Solano, who is now a primary suspect, claimed in his voluntary sworn affidavit that he didn’t know Castillo and that he just saw him last Sunday, Sept. 17, wrapped in a think white blanket on the corner of a street in Balut, Tondo.
Solano, who only disclosed that he is working as a part-time medical technologist at the San Lazaro Hospital, also said in his affidavit that he rode a motorcycle to buy cigarette at the corner of H. Lopez and Infanta streets where he saw Castillo’s body.
He then claimed that he had flagged down a red Mitsubishi Strada pickup to help him bring Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital, where the victim was declared dead on arrival.
But police found out through a CCTV footage that Solano knew Castillo as the two were seen walking together outside UST on Dapitan Street in Sampaloc, Manila with other students past 5 p.m. on Sept. 16, a day before Solano claimed that he saw the victim’s body on the street.
Authorities likwise found out that Solano was also a UST law student and a member of Aegis Juris, who had recruited Castillo to join the fraternity.
Earlier, officials of Barangay 133 disputed Solano’s claim that he found Castillo at the corner of H. Lopez and Infanta streets. The barangay’s CCTV recordings showed there was no body found in the area at the time when Solano claimed that he saw Castillo’s cadaver.
Also, authorities found out that the Strada pickup with plate number ZTV 539 that Solano supposedly flagged down to help him bring Castillo to the hospital belonged to Antonio Trangia, whose son, Ralph Trangia, is also a member of Aegis Juris.
The Trangias are now also “possible suspects” and are being tracked down by authorities, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).
The police are also pursuing Solano, who is no longer staying at his family’s residence in Caloocan City. Solano last reported for work at San Lazaro Hospital on Friday, Sept. 15
MPD Director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel on Wednesday said it appeared that Solano “in cooperation” with Trangia had “deliberately misled” authorities “by providing us false” statements.
“We feel a cover-up for this case kaya sila suspects na ng investigation [that’s why they are now suspects in the investigation],” added Coronel.
Coronel said the fraternity’s officers, members, and alumni, including Nilo T. Divina, dean of the UST Faculty of Civil Law, are also being investigated by authorities.
He said those who would be found to have a hand in Castillo’s death “maybe held as co-conspirators, liable for obstruction of justice.”
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