THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to reopen on Friday its preliminary investigation on the killing of hazing victim Horacio Tomas Castillo III.
Assistant Prosecutor Attorney II Wendell Bendoval, a member of the panel of prosecutors handling the case, said the investigation has to be reopened following the submission of the sworn statement of state witness and Aegis Juris fratman Mark Ventura.
The DOJ panel investigating Castillo’s death already submitted the case for resolution last November 16.
Bendoval said the panel received Ventura’s sworn statement only on January 3.
During the conduct of the preliminary investigation, Ventura failed to submit his sworn statement, which provided the details on what took place during the Aegis Juris initiation rites that led to the death of the neophyte and University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student on September 17, 2017.
“It’s material evidence we have to consider. So, we have to reopen the preliminary investigation,” Bendoval said. “We can’t resolve the case if the evidence is incomplete.”