Team DailyPedia
The provincial prosecutor in Quezon has greenlit the pursuit of charges against film director Jade Castro and three other individuals linked to the alleged arson of a modern Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) in Catanauan, Quezon.
In a 17-page resolution released by the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor on Friday at 5:00 PM, Assistant Prosecutor Lirio Roces Munoz recommended charging them with destructive arson under Article 320 Paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code.
The resolution cited statements from the investigating officer, PSMS Pordan, who noted that the motive behind the crime, as per their cyber patrolling, seemed to stem from opposition to Jeepney modernization, particularly evident in social media posts attributed to Castro.
Quezon Provincial Prosecutor Rodrigo Domingo approved the recommendation, signaling the advancement of legal proceedings against the accused.
In response, parents of Jade Castro expressed their dismay over the resolution’s contents but stated their reliance on legal counsel for subsequent actions. They affirmed their commitment to remaining in Catanauan and supporting their child throughout the legal process.
Efforts to gather comments from the legal representatives of the accused are ongoing.
According to Atty. Chel Diokno, this development affords Castro and his co-accused the opportunity to defend themselves against the charges levied.
“The filing of the case in court opens up several avenues for the release of Jade and his companions, including the immediate dismissal of the case for lack of probable cause, release on bail, and quashal of the charge,” Diokno emphasized.
He further underscored that legal proceedings empower the accused to assert their rights, including the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.
Meanwhile, inquiries directed to the Catanauan Philippine National Police (PNP) for additional statements remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
