Taiwan on Friday said it acted swiftly on a Philippine alert and made sure to send Ralph Cabales Trangia—a suspect in the recent hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III—on his connecting flight from the United States via the island nation back to Manila.
In a statement issued days after Trangia’s arrival in Manila, The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said the immediate action is due to bilateral cooperation between immigration authorities of Taiwan and the Philippines, expressing Taipei’s serious commitment of its diplomatic relationship with the Manila.
“When the office received relevant information about the above-mentioned suspect, we immediately provided confirmed accurate information to the Philippine government,” Teco said.
Taiwan's National Immigration Agency also blacklisted Trangia for travel to Taipei, it added.
Shortly after Castillo’s death, Trangia flew to Chicago via Taiwan on EVA Air on Sept. 19.
Trangia and his mother, Rosemarie, arrived from Taipei on Tuesday, barely a month after they went to the United States following the killing of Castillo in initiation rites of the Aegis Juris Fraternity.
Teco said when Taiwan authorities received the APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) alert on Trangia's flight from Chicago to Taiwan via flight BR55, they monitored his arrival constantly and ensured that he will board the plane back to Manila.
“On October 9, 2017, as soon as we obtained the information, this office informed the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines to take necessary measures. Due to our cooperation, the suspect was detained upon his arrival in Manila and will face the judicial process,” Teco said.
The office said this is one of the examples of “successful cooperation” between the Philippines and Taiwan immigration authorities.
“This Office looks forward to working with the Philippines authorities hand in hand for even better relations and cooperation in the future,” Teco added.
Trangia is among the 18 persons facing charges of murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law complaints filed by the MPD in connection with Castillo's death.
Charges were also filed against Trangia's parents and officials of the UST Faculty of Civil Law in relation to the hazing death. His father, Antonio, is among the respondents in the murder, perjury, obstruction of justice, robbery and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law charges. His mother, Rosemarie, is facing an obstruction of justice complaint.