MANILA — Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday slammed John Paul Solano, prime suspect in the death of law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, for his claim that the victim died of a pre-existing heart condition and not hazing.
“Their alibi clearly shows a massive disrespect for Atio, his family, and the Filipino people. Does he even have proof of his statement?” Zubiri said in a release sent to media.
Zubiri, a family friend of the Castillos, said that regardless of any pre-condition which Atio’s parents have denied, it is obvious that Solano and his lawyers “are just conjuring excuses for Atio’s murder.”
“How can they explain the discoloration of the body due to massive hematoma? How can they dispute the medico-legal finding of DNA of Atio on the paddle used by the Aegis Juris fratmen? The use of paddle is illegal under the Anti-Hazing Law,” he added.
Zubiri pointed out that Atio was even known by family and friends to be a football player of Colegio San Agustin.
“The people cannot be fooled by this quack who is simply out to save his skin and now hunting an escape goat by blaming Atio himself for his own death,” Zubiri said.
“Solano is blatantly lying through his teeth to cover up the criminal acts of his frat brods,” he added.
He further likened Solano’s behavior to that of a “criminal syndicate member.”
The senator, meanwhile, said Solano should be punished for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury for Atio’s death.
Zubiri earlier filed Resolution No. 504 that initiated the series of Senate investigations by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Chair of the Committee on Public Order and Drugs.
In a counter-affidavit he submitted to the Department of Justice investigating panel, Solano claimed Atio died of cardiac arrest caused by his pre-existing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
“To emphasize, what is clear from the medico-legal report is that Horacio has HCM which is a pre-existing heart disease of Horacio,” Solano’s affidavit read.
“From my study as a licensed medical technologist, HCM could not have been caused by hazing or any physical activity,” he added.
He pointed out that patients with HCM had an increased risk of cardiac failure. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
