Senate probe on warrantless arrest of Director Jade Castro, companions sought

Director Jade Castro PHOTO FROM FB

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking to probe the warrantless arrest of Director Jade Castro and his three other companions for allegedly torching a modernized jeepney in Quezon.

In Senate Resolution No. 928, Hontiveros said Castro, Ernesto Orcimen, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Vellerio Ramos were arrested – without a warrant – on February 1, 2024.

They were arrested for allegedly torching a modernized jeepney in Barangay Dahican, Catanauan, Quezon, on January 31.

“While several witnesses were said to have provided positive identification and pointed to Director Jade and his companions as the alleged culprits, other witnesses, on the other hand, from the local government unit of Mulanay, Quezon, provided testimonies to say that Director Jade and his companions were actually in Mulanay, Quezon, the adjacent town, while the crime was happening in Catanauan, Quezon,” said Hontiveros.

“Closed Circuit Television footage provided by the LGU of Mulanay also shows that Director Castro and his group can be seen in Mulanay at around the time the crime was supposed to be happening in Catanauan, Quezon, which is around 30 minutes away by vehicle from Mulanay,” she emphasized.

The senator also questioned the “injustice” of how Castro and his companions were arrested.

READ: Remulla to Quezon prosecutor: Ensure justice in Jade Castro case

“There is a need to determine whether the operational guidelines and protocols that our law enforcers follow are sufficient and are being followed so as to not arbitrarily deprive citizens of liberty nor cast doubts when they perform their sworn duty to protect and to serve the people,” said Hontiveros.

In a separate statement issued on Tuesday, the senator emphasized that in all circumstances, the “aresto now, paliwanag later” (arrest now, explain later) scheme should not be normalized.

According to Hontiveros, the Senate will closely look into the issue to highlight the truth and rightly implement laws for all.