Three policemen face administrative charges over the warrantless arrest of film director Jade Castro and three others for the alleged burning of a minibus in Catanauan, Quezon.
The Philippine National Police’s Regional Internal Affairs Service (PNP-RIAS) has filed the cases, Police Regional Office 4A Public Information Office chief P/Lt.Col. Chitadel Gaoiran said.
“Yes, there is. To know if there are lapses in the arrest,” Gaoiran, quoted by GMA News, said.
The announcement was initially made by Castro’s lawyer Mike Marpuri during a briefing on Tuesday.
Marpuri identified the officers as Police Captain Daniel Dela Cruz, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonjon Pordan, and Police Corporal Christian Abenilla. He said the preliminary hearing has been set for Friday.
Catanauan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 96 has granted the motion to quash filed by Castro’s camp, effectively dismissing the destructive arson charge against them.
It said it could not acquire jurisdiction over Castro, Ernesto Orcine, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Ramos as the Catanauan Municipal Police Station (MPS) “arrested them not in accordance with Section 5(b), Rule 113 of the Rules of Court.”
However, the Court said the order does not prevent the filing of another case against them.
“Well, prerogative naman ‘yun ng pulis, even the fiscal and the private prosecutor. Because we already expect na mag fa-file nga sila ng motion for reconsideration,” Carmela Peña, another member of Castro’s legal team, said.
Asked if they plan to file counter charges, Marpuri said they are still weighing their options.
“As to whether Direk Jade and his friends will be filing counter-charges, we’re still in the process of deciding. Because after all, it’s their choice,” he said.
PNP’s Regional Office Region 4-A (PRO 4A) on Tuesday said it will re-file destructive arson charges against Castro and his colleagues.