MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has created a hotline as it appealed on informants who have knowledge about the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio Castillo III to tell authorities what they know.

"To those who know anything about what happened to Horacio Castillo III, if you were there when it happened, then you have blood on your hands, time to wash it with the truth and with justice for Atio," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a statement.

Tips and information about Castillo's death may be sent to the "Horacio Hotline" via mobile number 0995-442-9241.

In his statement Saturday, Aguirre said those involved in the hazing incident who have remained silent "have already imprisoned yourself."

"We are waiting for your call, do no injustice, suffer no injustice," Aguirre said, emphasizing the motto of the Aegis Jvris fraternity that was tagged in Castillo's killing.

"Hiding will not do you any good. Running from the truth is like being locked up in a jail with no bars," Aguirre added.

Castillo, 22, died last weekend in fraternity initiation rites after suffering "massive injuries."

The DOJ earlier offered protection for witnesses in the fatal hazing incident.

Aguirre meanwhile said Friday that some senior members of the Aegis Jvris fraternity were preventing those present at Castillo's initiation from speaking out.

• READ: Aegis Jvris members prevented from speaking out: Aguirre

Primary suspect John Paul Solano surrendered Friday but said he only provided first aid for Castillo when called upon by his fraternity brothers.

UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina, who founded the Aegis Jvris fraternity in 1979, vowed to seek justice for Castillo.

In a statement, Aegis Jvris said its members who were involved in Castillo's death are ready to submit themselves to investigations by the Senate and National Bureau of Investigation.

However, Ralph Trangia, one of the primary suspects, was able to slip out of the country a day before the DOJ released an immigration lookout bulletin order listing him and other fraternity members as persons of interest in the case.

Trangia is known to have left Tuesday for a flight to Chicago, which passed through Taipei.