The Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the complaint filed by police against environmental activist Jonila Castro over her participation in a protest last September outside St. Gerrard Construction Company, owned by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) confirmed Friday night.
NUPL president Ephraim Cortez, who shared the resolution on Facebook, said the group welcomes the dismissal but disagrees with the view that the absence of a permit under the Public Assembly Act justifies stopping peaceful protests.
Cortez cited the resolution issued by the prosecutor’s office, which noted that the police failed to identify who actually led the protest where mud was thrown and slogans were spray-painted on the company’s building.
“Aside from naming Jonila as among those who participated in the protest action, the complainant failed to allege, and to provide proof, that Jonila was a leader of the protest action,” Cortez said.
He added, “This is clear proof that Jonila was unjustly singled out by the [Philippine National Police], and concocted an obviously baseless complaint against her. This was designed to silence her and to send a message to those who dare to dissent.”
In September, Castro — who serves as the spokesperson for the environmental group Kalikasan — said the protesters gathered at the Discaya-owned firm to denounce alleged corruption in flood-control projects.
“Gusto nating ipakita doon ‘yung mismong galit natin sa kanila. Na habang tayo ay nilulubog sa baha at putik, sila lumulubog naman sa pera na ninakaw nila sa mamamayan,” she said.
The case’s dismissal was seen by rights advocates as a reaffirmation of the people’s right to peaceful assembly and protest.