MANILA -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, October 4,
vowed swift justice for the death of a University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman
law student.
The President gave the assurance during his meeting with Horacio Jr.
and Carmina Castillo, parents of Horacio Tomas Castillo III in Malacañan
Palace. Castillo died of heart attack last month allegedly while undergoing
hazing.
The Chief Executive assured Horacio’s parents that justice would be
served and that there would be full transparency in the ongoing police investigation.
During the meeting which lasted for almost an hour, the Castillos
expressed fear of a cover up by some groups which may derail the filing of
charges against those involved into the death of their son.
Hence, upon request of the Castillo family, the President made a phone
call to the chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) during the meeting and
asked MPD to be the lead investigating body of the case.
In addition, President Duterte said the Department of Justice (DOJ)
would validate the result of the MPD’s probe. At the same time, he said he
would discuss during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting the possible cancellation of
the passport of a suspect who fled the country.
He said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) wants to coordinate
with the International Police Organization or INTERPOL on the matter.
During the meeting, President Duterte also talked about the culture of
brotherhood among university students which had become a serious concern.
He said it's time for Congress to pass a legislation that would stop
deadly hazing rites and at the same time, colleges and universities should do
their share to resolve this perennial problem.
In a media interview after the meeting, the President said that
impeachment complaints maybe filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
President Duterte said the Ombudsman berates people for delay of
justice and yet the “Ombudsman is the number one who's doing selective
justice.” He also accused the Ombudsman of using falsified documents.
On the other hand, the President said Sereno did not include in her
Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) all the earnings she
accumulated.
“Kasi hinahamon ko nga sila. Why don’t we go to Congress? The
three of us --- Sereno, siya, pati ako and we will bring the passbook
or the statement of the Central Bank. I will ask for it myself,” he said.
“Then ipakita natin doon but we sign because what perceives
to be a problem for the Republic is the Chief Justice na hindi rin pala
nag-file ng SALN niya, the huge attorney’s fees niya sa
Piatco case,” he added. (PND)
