MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Ralph Trangia, one of the suspects in the death of freshman Horacio Castillo III, will be returning to the Philippines before noon on Tuesday, October 10, according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

“Trangia will be arriving in Manila tomorrow from Taipei via Eva Air flight B3 271 with estimated time of arrival (ETA) at 11:20 am,” Aguirre said late Monday, October 9.

Aguirre said Trangia’s mother is with him on the flight. “We will offer security if he asks for it,” Aguirre added.

Trangia is among the 17 individuals who are facing complaints of murder and violation of the anti-hazing law before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the death of Castillo. 

Trangia, a member of Aegis Juris fraternity, was the one who allegedly drove Castillo to the Chinese General Hospital morning of Sunday, September 17. Castillo was declared dead on arrival at 9:21 am.

Trangia’s father Antonio is the registered owner of the red Strada pickup that was used to bring Castillo to the hospital. Antonio also faces the same complaint as his son.

John Paul Solano, who was with Trangia and Castillo in the vehicle Sunday morning, had already surfaced and has been attending hearings at the DOJ. Solano is enjoying temporary freedom after a week in jail at the Manila Police District.

Trangia, on the other hand, left the country for the United States on September 21.

During the continuation of the DOJ’s preliminary investigation of the case Monday afternoon, Castillo’s parents filed murder complaints against UST Law Dean Nilo Divina and his secretary at the Faculty of Law. Both are alumni of the Aegis Juris fraternity.

Castillo’s parents implicated Divina for alleged cover-up of the incident. – Rappler.com