Senator Risa Hontiveros pushes for a Senate probe on the warrantless arrest of filmmaker Jade Castro and his companions last February 1 for an arson attack in Quezon town, saying that there is a possible mishandling of the case.
Castro and his companions were accused of torching a modern jeepney in Catanauan.
However, CCTV footage has been provided to prove that the filmmaker’s group was not in the mentioned area but rather in Mulanay town when the incident happened.
According to Hontiveros, law enforcement should use warrantless arrest to protect the rights of persons and maintain the integrity of the legal system, as she filed the resolution on Monday.
She claimed it was a foul to arrest someone and explain later on, citing Castro’s situation and the alleged accusations against him and his companion.
In her Facebook post, Hontiveros shared the filed resolution to probe the controversial warrantless arrest of the four.
The senator labeled the cop’s statement questioning the authenticity of the CCTV evidence presented by Castro’s group as “alarming,” adding that it would also decrease public trust in the police officers.
Hontiveros firmly stated that the local government unit of Mulanay, Quezon, has already proven that Castro and his group were seen in the municipal plaza when the supposed arson attack in Catanuan happened, emphasizing that it is a 30-minute drive.
As such, she assured that the Senate would keep an eye on the case to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno offered legal assistance to Catro’s group and already raised his concerns over the warrantless arrest, saying that there was no legitimate hot pursuit operation as they were not caught in the act of committing the crime.
