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Court orders release of film director, 3 pals

Philippines | Luzon

Court orders release of film director, 3 pals

By Danny Estacio

CATANAUAN, Quezon – A court here has ordered the release of film director Jade Castro and his three companions after more than a month in detention for destructive arson.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/17/film-director-3-companions-face-destructive-arson-raps-over-torching-of-modern-jeep

The Catanauan Regional Trial Court Branch 96 freed the quartet after it granted the motion to quash filed by their lawyers.

Catanauan RTC Branch 96 Presiding Judge Julius Francis Galvez signed the order on the grounds of unjustified arrest by the Mulanay police.

Castro and his three companions – Ernesto, 50, of Bacoor City, Cavite; Noel, 54, civil engineer, from Binangonan, Rizal, and Dominic, 28, also a civil engineer, of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija – had been incarcerated for almost 40 days after they were slapped with a destructive arson case in connection with the burning of a modern jeep in Barangay Dahican, Catanauan on January 31. The modern jeep was owned by Gumaca Transport Group and driven by Carl Bayer Villanueva.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/1/gunmen-torch-modern-jeep-in-quezon

Castro’s group was guests of the Mi Casa Resort in Barangay Butanyog, Mulanay.

They arrived and departed the resort in a Mitsubishi Mirage and were positively identified by eyewitnesses, including the driver and passengers of the Public Utility Vehicle.

The Catanauan police promptly acted on this information, resulting in the apprehension of Castro and companions.

Related Tags

Catanauan Jade Castro Modern jeepneys Quezon province Mulanay Arson

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