Caloocan court drops all charges vs PISTON 6

A Caloocan court dropped charges against the PISTON 6 who were arrested in 2020 after protesting against the prohibition against jeepneys plying their routes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an order filed on Friday, the court found that the evidence against Severino Ramos, Wilson Ramilla, Ramon Paloma, Ruben Baylon, Elmer Cordero, and Arsenio Ymas was insufficient.

The order further said that there was no violation of Quarantine protocols as the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine had already been put in effect since the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine on May 16, 2020, weeks before the arrest on June 2, 2020.

“In view of the absence of the essential element of ‘existence of lawful order’ given by the responding policemen to the rallyist/accused, the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient to prove the guilt of the accused on the crime of disobedience beyond reasonable doubt,” the court order read. — DVM, GMA Integrated News