MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) sees the passage of a proposed law in the Lower House of Congress which seeks to bring back subpoena powers to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the investigating body of the PNP, as a huge help to the organization.

According to PNP-CIDG Chief P/Dir. Roel Obusan, the pace of their investigation of cases will become faster once they are given the power to issue a subpoena.

“More than happy. This is an organizational advancement for CIDG. We are looking forward to a better and faster investigative process in CIDG and the PNP as a whole… thanks to our legislators,” Obusan said.

CIDG National Capital Region Director PS/Supt. Wilson Asueta said that through the said law, it will be easier for them to retrieve necessary documents or even copies of CCTV footages.

“We can easily ask documentary evidence from concern individuals and entities so we can have it and use in the filing of cases,” Asueta said.

The CIDG said they are having difficulty investigating as they can retrieve limited information only that could serve as evidence.

“We cannot force them to produce documents to appear before us, so a mere invitation only, voluntary basis only,” Asueta said.

The chief of the CIDG, meanwhile, assured the public that they will not abuse their subpoena powers.

“It will not be abused. A subpoena can be checked, the person can consult lawyers and other learned individuals. It will not supplant rights of the people. In fact, this can lessen conduct of search warrants,” Obusan said.

Of all law enforcement bodies in the country, only the PNP has no power to issue subpoena unlike the national bureau of investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Justice.

This is why, the CIDG said, giving them the said power would help in the immediate resolution of the cases they are investigating.

The proposal giving the CIDG subpoena powers was passed in the Senate last January. – Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: CCTV, CIDG, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, lower house of Congress, Philippine National Police, PNP

John Paul Solano

MANILA, Philippines — John Paul Solano’s camp insists that they hold strong evidence to prove that he has no involvement in the hazing and death of law student Horacio Castillo the third.

Solano maintains he was not there when the initiation rite was executed.

He claims he has been inactive from the Aegis Juris Fraternity for some time. He was at home when someone called him to administer medical aid to Atio.

“Magfa-file ng preliminary investigation, doon ko na rin ilalagay ang affidavit ko, statements at mga CCTV sa barangay namin,” said Solano. “Kasi doon sa barangay namin may CCTV saka sa neighbors namin nagsecure na kami ng copy.”

(At the filing of the preliminary of investigation, I will include my affidavit, statements and CCTV from our barangay. We have CCTV in our barangay as well as our neighbors. We have already secured a copy.)

Solano said he decided to surrender to help shed light to the incident and seek justice for Castillo.

Meanwhile, the Manila Police District (MPD) is still awaiting the resolution of the Department of Justice on the case filed against Solano and 17 others.

“Whether there is probable cause to endorse the complaint and information made by Manila Police District to the court or resolution will endorse in the court and whether the respondent will be release for investigation,” MPD Spokesperson P/Supt. Erwin Margarejo said.

Meanwhile, MPD is set to enter and check on the office of the Aegis Juris Fraternity in Laon Laan, Sampaloc, Manila.

The police is awaiting the search warrant before they can enter and investigate on the crime scene. – Victor Cosare | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: Aegis Juris Fraternity, CCTV, Horacio Castillo, John Paul Solano, Laon Laan, Sampaloc

Horacio “Atio” Castillo III

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) is set to summon John Paul Solano to shed light on the case involving the death of UST law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.

Solano was the one who allegedly saw the body of Castillo lying unconscious on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo, Sunday morning and brought it to the Chinese General Hospital.

MPD Spokesperon P/Supt Erwin Margarejo said they will invite Solano for questioning due to his contradicting statements.

“The sworn statement given by John Paul Solano is being disputed by barangay officials. So meaning, John Paul Solano can now be considered a person of interest,” Margarejo said.

“We can file appropriate perjury case against John Paul Solano,” Margarejo added.

Based on Solano’s statement, he saw the victim at around eight in the morning while on his way to San Lazaro Hospital where he works.

He said he even asked for a motorist’s help in bringing the victim to the nearest hospital.

However, based on the certification sent by the Brgy. 133, their CCTV showed no body on the said sidewalk at 8 in the morning of Sunday.

“The certification was under oath. It was verified by barangay officials and all other officials that cover the area, that no remains were found there,” Margarejo said.

The MPD is now coordinating with the management of Uber, as according to the parents of Castillo, an Uber driver brought the things of their son to their house.

The police said, questioning the Uber driver will help them trace where Castillo’s things came from, which may lead them to the place where the hazing was carried out.

The MPD will also validate the information it received that Solano is also a UST law student and a part time medical technologist at the San Lazaro Hospital.

Solano, however, is not yet responding to the calls of MPD.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe into Castillo’s death.

“It was already night when I made the department order to the NBI to conduct (inaudible) investigation and case buildup on the perpetrators of the Aegis Juris Fraternity hazing incident,” said DOJ Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II.  – Aiko Miguel | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: CCTV, Department of Justice, John Paul Solano, MPD Spokesperon P/Supt Erwin Margarejo, The Manila Police District, UST, UST law student