Director Jade Castro and three others released after 40 days in detention

After spending 40 days in detention on allegations of arson involving a modern jeepney in Catanauan, Quezon, director Jade Castro and three others have been released from custody.

Last night, March 11, Director Jade, along with Ernesto Orcine, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Ramos, were discharged from the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP) facility in Catanauan.

This development followed the decision of Judge Julius Franciz Galvez of Branch 96 of the Catanauan Regional Trial Court, who granted the motion to quash filed by the group’s legal counsel, Atty. Michael Marpuri.

Their arrest stemmed from an incident on January 28, where they were apprehended by operatives of the Philippine National Police at the Mi Casa Resort in Barangay Butanyog, Mulanay, Quezon, on February 1. They were charged with destructive arson.

Despite the allegations, Director Jade and his companions asserted their innocence, claiming they were mistakenly identified.

According to Atty. Marpuri, Director Jade and the others were released from the BJMP facility in Catanauan around 8 p.m.

“Ibinasura ng korte yung demanda dahil mali yung pagkakaaresto sa kanila. The information was quashed on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of the court on the persons of the accused due to the invalidity of their arrest. Technically, case is dismissed but without prejudice as to refiling,” explained Atty. Marpuri.

Atty. Blanchie Baticulon, another lawyer for Director Jade, elaborated, “In this case po, the court ruled that there is no hot pursuit, for the reason po na sabi ng husgado, ng Branch 96 ng Catanauan, Quezon, unang-una, ‘yung mga testigo, hindi nila nasabi, right after the commission of the crime, kung saan sila pumunta. Kasi nga po sabi ng husgado, the time they were arrested, the suspects were not acting in suspicious manner. They were acting as innocent individuals at that time.”

The release of Director Jade and his companions marks the conclusion of a legal ordeal that began with their arrest following the allegations of arson.