The Political Officers League of the Philippines (POLPhil), stands in solidarity with filmmaker Jade Castro and his companions who were arrested without warrant, the group said in a statement.
Castro, together with his companions Ernesto Orcine, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Ramos, were taken into custody by policemen in Barangay Dahican, Catanauan, Quezon on suspicion with setting a modernized jeepney on fire on Jan. 31 in Barangay Dahican, Catanuan, Quezon. They remain in detention to this day.
Castro and his companions have refuted these accusations, claiming they were in Mulanay at the time of the incident. Mulanay and Catanauan have a distance of 24.4 km.
POLPhil President Rudy “Kit” Cañeda said: “We demand Castro’s immediate release if there is no concrete proof to support his continuing arrest together with his companions.”
“We believe in the fundamental right to freedom of expression and due process, cornerstones of a just and open society,” Cañeda said.
The director was in the other town at the time, according to Mulanay, Quezon LGU authorities, and there is CCTV footage to support their claims. However, the PNP is adamant that the CCTV run by the local government is unreliable.
POLPhil urged the appropriate authorities “to respect these principles and make sure that the allegations against Mr. Castro are thoroughly and fairly investigated.”
“POLPhil encourages open dialogue and peaceful discourse as essential tools for addressing societal issues. We believe that silencing voices, regardless of personal opinions, undermines the democratic values we strive to uphold,” it added.
“We encourage others to join us in demanding #FreeDirekJadeCastro. We support individuals who fight for justice and openness. Let’s work together to advance a society where diverse voices are heard, respected, and protected,” Caneda said.