MANILA — A senator has expressed hope that the next Senate hearing into the hazing death of law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III will be “intense” as it could now use the affidavit of new witness, Mark Ventura.
“We’ll use his affidavit and we’ll call also yung mga kasamahan po niya na magsabi na ng katotohanan (We’ll use his affidavit and we’ll call his other companions to also tell the truth),” Senator Joel Villanueva said in an interview.
Villanueva said that Ventura’s willingness to speak about the events that transpired before Atio’s death is a “welcome development.”
The Department of Justice earlier said that it has already placed Ventura under the government’s Witness Protection Program.
Villanueva, meanwhile, said that the Senate was “disappointed” with another witness, John Paul Solano, who vowed to “tell all” but opted otherwise after consulting with his frat brothers.
“After niya makausap yung mga brods niya nag-backtrack na siya, bumaligtad na siya, we’re so disappointed (After he spoke to his brods, he backtracked, he turned the other way, we’re so disappointed),” the senator said.
“Itong darating na hearing, mas magiging intense dahil hindi na nila basta basta magagamit ang invocation ng kanilang right against self-incrimination (The next hearing will be intense because they won’t be able to use their right against self-incrimination anytime they want),” he added.
Villanueva said that the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, will resume its hearing into the Atio hazing death on November 6 (Monday).(PNA)
