Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10) — A principal suspect in the hazing-death case of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III landed in Manila on Tuesday.
Eva Air flight BR 271, the flight suspect Ralph Trangia boarded, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 from Taipei, Taiwan at 11:44 a.m. He came from Chicago in the United States.
He was accompanied by his mother, Rosemarie, who is facing obstruction of justice charges for allowing her son to leave the country.
The Trangias are heading to their home in Bangcal in Meycauayan, Bulacan, authorities said.
Trangia, who is the sergeant-at-arms of the Aegis Juris Fraternity of the University of Sto. Tomas, is one of the suspects in the death of Castillo. He is facing facing murder, robbery, and anti-hazing law charges.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the U.S. Homeland Security offered help to extradite the Trangias.
He said Trangia voluntarily came back to face the charges, as there is no warrant of arrest against him.
Aguirre added a date will be set for the police to question him.
Authorities believe Trangia, and his father Antonio, own the car that transported Castillo’s body to the hospital. Antonio, also considered as primary suspect, is facing the same charges as his son and is still at-large.
Ralph, along with his mother Rosemarie, flew to the United States on September 19, two days after Castillo was declared dead after the hazing rites of the Aegis Juris Fraternity. He left a day before authorities included him on the lookout departure order.
Castillo’s father, Horacio Castillo Jr., wants the younger Trangia to shed light on unanswered questions regarding his son’s death.
According to a police report, Castillo had hematoma or bruises on both upper arms. He also had several marks of candle wax drips all over his body. Authorities said the initial autopsy report showed Castillo succumbed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or thickening of the heart muscle.
Trangia is one of the 16 fraternity members who have been named as suspects in the hazing case, most of whom remain at large.
CNN Philippines’ Rex Remitio contributed to this report.
