Police official: Fratmen panicked, eyed cover-up

Manila Police District (MPD) Director Joel Coronel said on Wednesday that at least 19 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity had met in a hotel in which their objective was to discuss how will they cover-up the incident which led to the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III.

During the resumption of Senate inquiry on Castillo’s killing, Coronel said an informant forwarded to them screenshots of conversation of at least 30 members of the Aegis Juris in a group chat which was created by a certain Attorney Marvi Rosero Abo following Castillo’s death on September 17.

He said participants of the group chat include Ferdinand Rogelio, Mong dela Fuente, Edzel Bert Canlas, Jose Miguel Salamat, Cecilio Jimeno, Car Mhel (Brian Mhel Bangui), Gaile Dante Caraan, Miguel Ventura III, Milfen Alvarado, Jet Dela Peña Villaroman, and Henry Pablo Jr.

“In light of the discovery of the chat message that was formed on Sunday, September 17, the objective of the Aegis Juris fraternity is to cover up, conceal, to avoid and evade investigation and prosecution of this case,” Coronel said.

“They were in panic. They couldn’t agree where to meet, some of them agreed to talking to Castillo’s parents but majority advocated that they avoid prose- cution, having concerns for their fraternity brothers involved na baka daw masira ang kinabukasan,” he added.

He said some of the members even suggested that they talk to Castillo’s family and offer a settlement.

Coronel said there was no indication in the thread that they will submit themselves to investigation.

He said they were able to obtain a CCTV footage from Novotel Manila in Cubao, showing several members of the fraternity arriving there.

He said the meeting was held in one of the hotel’s function room in the third floor.

Among the fraternity members present at the meeting were Jimeno, Salamat, Canlas and Rogelio, based on the CCTV footage inside an elevator.