After the charges were pushed against filmmaker Jade Castro alongside three other companions for the alleged arson of a modern PUV in Catanauan, Quezon, actors, directors, and other stakeholders in the film industry gathered to call for the release of the filmmaker.
The Free the Artist Movement conducted the “Cinema at Katotohanan: Usapung Pelikula at Isyung Panlipunan” meeting. The attendees held statements and cried out for justice for Castro, including Joel Lamabgan, Bart Guingona, and Rez Cortez.
Lamangan stated that Castro and his three other companions should be released from jail, as they were only accused of something they didn’t do, asking for everyone’s cooperation for their release as part of the filmmaker industry.
On February 1, Castro and three others were arrested after being identified as having burned down a modern jeepney in Catanauan, Quezon; however, CCTV footage showed that the four were not in the town mentioned but in Mulanay, which was around 30 minutes away when the incident occurred.
As such, the president of the Director’s Guild of the Philippines, Inc., interrogated the credibility of the witnesses’ testimony on Castro since the burning incident happened at night with the suspects wearing face coverings.
On February 17, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Quezon recommended the filing of destructive arson cases against Castro and three others.
