Atio's parents hopeful Trangia will shed light on son's hazing death

The parents of hazing victim Horacio Tomas "Atio" Castillo III said on Tuesday that they were hopeful  the investigation into their son's death would make headway now that suspect and Aegis Juris Fraternity officer Ralph Caballes Trangia was back in the Philippines.

Trangia flew to Chicago, Illinois after Castillo died in hospital from hazing-related injuries.

"Coping is very hard," Atio's Father, Horacio Jr. said on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras". "Kasi we have to live with the fact na hindi na namin siya makikita for the rest of our lives. You know, we miss him a lot. So... coping, we just cope day by day."

Atio's parents believed that Trangia could help shed light on the events that led to their son's death. "He can face his charges. He can tell us the truth kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa anak namin para we can all know what happened. Makita natin 'yung katotohanan," said Atio's mother, Carminia.

As to whether they were open to Trangia becoming a state witness, they said, "Depende po sa statement niya. What he has to say."

"Dapat mayroong substance 'yung kaniyang sasabihin. So dapat may new leads.  Dapat ma-identify talaga who are the guilty ones," Horacio Jr. explained.

The Castillo couple added that it was still too soon to say whether anyone else would come forward with the truth. "Right now? Well hindi ko masasabi kung may tumutulong. But it seems like, nasaan sila? All of them. 'Di ba? All of them."

The Castillo family was also wondered why police investigators were not rounding up suspects faster than they were. "Why is it so hard for the whole police force to look for them?" they asked.

Ralph Trangia faced murder, robbery and Anti-Hazing Law charges over the fatal hazing incident.

And because Castillo was brought to the Chinese General Hospital in a red Strada pick-up truck believed to be registered to Antonio Trangia, Ralph's father, he too, as well as 16 others, faced the same charges.

Ralph's mother, Rosemarie, was also slapped with an obstruction of justice complaint given that she and her son were seen catching a flight together to Chicago during the wee hours of September 19. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News