Police to pursue arson charges against filmmaker Jade Castro et al

The Philippine National Police Regional Office Region 4-A (PRO 4A) on Tuesday said it will re-file destructive arson charges against filmmaker Jade Castro and three others in relation to the alleged burning of a modern jeepney in Catanauan, Quezon.

This developed after Castro and his three companions — Ernesto Orcine, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Ramos — were released Monday evening after a Quezon court granted their motion to quash, challenging the legality of their arrest.

“We, in the Police Regional Office CALABARZON, remain committed to ensuring justice is served and will continue our thorough investigation into the case,” Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas, PRO 4A Regional Director, said in a press statement.

“We will diligently gather appropriate evidence and work towards re-filing the case of destructive arson against the accused,” Lucas said.

On January 31, the film director and his co-accused were arrested without a warrant in Mulanay, Quezon over their alleged involvement in the burning of a modern jeepney Barangay Dahican in the town of Catanauan.

Police later admitted that they had no physical evidence linking Castro and his companions to the crime.

In the 16-page order, the Catanauan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 96 said it cannot acquire jurisdiction over the four individuals as members of the Catanauan Municipal Police Station (MPS) “arrested them not in accordance with Section 5(b), Rule 113 of the Rules of Court.”

“[T]he motion(s) to Quash the Information… is partially granted, and the said Information is hereby quashed, on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of this Court over the persons of accused,” it said.

However, the court said that the ruling does not foreclose the case build-up of the Catanauan police to determine their involvement.

“This ruling cannot be interpreted as a resolution of this case on the merits which can be further strengthened by the MPS Catanauan and the prosecution through a regular preliminary investigation,” it said.

“An order sustaining the motion to quash is not bar to another prosecution for the same offense unless the motion was based on the grounds specified in Section 3(g) and (i) of this Rule,” it added.

PRO 4A said it will observe the legal process in pursuing the arson charges and will coordinate with the lawyer of the owner of the motor vehicle. It will likewise seek assistance from the prosecutors from the Department of Justice for the case build-up.—RF, GMA Integrated News