MANIBELA calls for release of film director Jade Castro et al

Transport group MANIBELA, on Tuesday, called for the release of film director Jade Castro and three others after they were arrested for allegedly setting fire to a modern jeepney.

According to a statement released on social media Tuesday, MANIBELA said Castro and his companions were charged with a “made-up” case and were arrested without a warrant in Quezon province.

“Mariin na kinukundena ng mga opisyales, kasapian, at samahan sa ilalim ng MANIBELA ang iligal na pag-aresto dahil makikita ang kapabayaan ng kapulisan sa pag-uusisa. Patuloy kaming nananawagan na kailangang palayain sa pinaka madaling panahon sina Direk Jade Castro at kumpanya, maging sa lahat ng political prisoners na sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso at hinuli ng walang due process at tanging pagpapatahimik lamang ang intensyon,” the statement read.

(The officials, members and the association of MANIBELA strongly condemn the illegal arrests as a result of police negligence in its investigation. We continue to call for the immediate release of Director Jade Castro and company, and this also includes other political prisoners who were charged with made up cases and arrested without due process with the intention of silencing them.)

MANIBELA reiterated that based on the hearings, there is no evidence and only testimonies that link the four individuals to the crime.

“Si Direk Jae Castro at kumpanya ay naging aktibo sa pagbibigay ng kanilang pahayag hinggil sa pagtutol sa PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP). Isa ito sa mga lumutang na dahilan kung kaya sila ay hinuli kahit wala sa tamang proseso,” it added.

(Director Jade Castro and company were active in expressing their opinions against the PUV Modernization Program. This is one of the reasons as to why they were arrested without due process.)

MANIBELA said what happened to Castro is one way government silences its critics.

On January 31, Castro and three of his companions were arrested without a warrant for after they were accused of setting fire to two modern jeepney units in Catanauan, Quezon.

Police officials admitted on Monday that the four were only identified by witnesses with no concrete evidence, and they conducted hot pursuit operations that led to the arrests.

Authorities also made the arrests despite CCTV footage that showed the alleged suspects in a different town at the time of the incident. Police said the footage may have been “altered.”

The Senate is seeking a probe into the case, reiterating that an “arrest now, explain later” situation is always a cause for concern.

“Hindi lang nakaka-alarma ang pahayag na ‘yan mula sa mga tagapagpatupad ng batas, nakakabawas rin ito ng tiwala ng publiko,” said Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.

(Such comments are alarming coming from law enforcers. It also diminishes the public’s trust in the police.) 

“Tututukan ng Senado ang isyu na ito upang maisulong ang katotohanan, at masigurong naipapatupad nang tama ang batas para sa lahat,” she added.  

(The Senate will look closely at this to find the truth, and to ensure that laws are implemented equally to everyone.)

The Directors Guild of the Philippines and the UP Film Institute earlier called for the immediate release of the four individuals, while Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla ordered that “justice is dispensed appropriately and expeditiously.” —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News