Trangia family driver denies taking Atio Castillo to hospital

November 6, 2017 - 2:08 PM
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File photo of UST law student Horacio Tomas 'Atio' Castillo III, the latest fatality in initiation rites turned violent and tragic. PHOTO FROM ATIO'S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

MANILA, Philippines — The Trangia family driver denied driving the red pickup truck that brought freshmen law student Horacio Castillo III to the Chinese General Hospital where he was declared dead on September 17.

Appearing Monday, November 6, at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into Castillo’s death by hazing, Romeo Laboga said he was with his “boss,” Antonio Trangia, at his shop in Barangay Bancal, Meycauayan, Bulacan at the time Castillo was brought to the hospital following his final initiation rites with the Aegis Juris fraternity.

Trangia’s son Ralph is one of the fraternity members accused of participating in the hazing.

It was another fraternity member, John Paul Solano, a medical technician who was summoned to help revive Castillo after he passed out, who said it was the Trangia family driver who was at the wheel of the red pickup, which the Manila Police District said is registered in the name of Antonio Trangia.

But Laboga told the hearing that he had never driven a red pickup and only drove the Trangia’s Pajero.

It was later learned at the hearing that it was the driver of purported Aegis Juris head Arvin Balag who had driven the pickup from the fraternity library where the initiation took place to the Chinese General Hospital.