Influential people seek to delay investigation in Castillo case: VACC

Influential people are seeking to delay the filing of cases against Aegis Juris fratmen tagged in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo III, the leader of an anti-crime group said Saturday.

“I’ve received reports, there are a lot of influential people who are trying to intervene here. In fact, we have to be very careful. I caution also the family,” said Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

“[They want to] prolong this case. I have received reports that many influential people are intervening here. In fact, we have to be very careful. I caution also the family. They want to prolong the case. They are hiding some of the accused. That is part of their strategy. In the experience of VACC, about 80 percent of the cases of slain hazing victims we handled were dismissed,” Jimenez told reporters in Filipino at Castillo’s wake.

The influential group, Jimenez added, would also likely push for a settlement with the Castillo family.

“There are many hands, shall we say, that are trying to already come up with a strategy to influence the family and perhaps reach a settlement,” he said, shrugging.

The VACC has offered their legal assistance to Castillo’s parents, Carmina and Horacio Jr.

The crime watchdog is also set to attend Monday a Senate investigation into the hazing.