How dangerous is hazing in Philippines? Horatio ‘Atio’ Castillo III death witness may be in a witness protection program

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A member of the Aegis Juris fraternity who took part in the initiation rites for Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has been provisionally accepted into the government’s witness protection program, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Wednesday.

Aguirre identified the Aegis Juris member as Mark Ventura, who was accompanied by his mother and lawyer in a meeting with Aguirre on Tuesday afternoon.

Ventura is one of the respondents in the several complaints filed by the Manila Police District and Castillo’s parents over the death of the freshman law student of the University of Tomas (UST).

“Mr. Ventura narrated to us what he knew about what happened to Horatio ‘Atio’ Castillo III from the time of his admission as a neophyte of the Aegis Juris Fraternity until his initiation rites on the early morning of September 17, 2017,” Aguirre said in a press conference.

“Mr. Ventura gave us the names of the persons who were present during the initiation rites of Mr. Atio Castillo III. After hearing the narration of Mr. Ventura, I immediately decided to place him under provisional acceptance into the WPP,” he added.

Aguirre said Ventura has already executed an affidavit which would be used as basis for  his formal admission into the WPP.

“Mr. Ventura’s decision to seek admission into our WPP is a most welcome development in this case as we all endeavor to give justice to Atio’s untimely demise,” the Justice secretary said.