Quezon City prosecutor junks raps vs SONA protesters

MANILA, Philippines — Citing lack of probable cause and insufficient evidence, the Quezon City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the criminal complaints for violation of environmental laws filed by the police against an artist who created the “Doble Kara” effigy, which was burned by activists during the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 24.

In a five-page resolution dated Nov. 10 and made public only yesterday, Assistant City Prosecutor Kathleen Aseron-Casimiro junked the charges filed by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) against Max Santiago and three others.

The respondents were charged with violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Waste Management Act and RA 8749, also known as the Clean Air Act.

In dismissing the complaints, Aseron-Casimiro said the complainants – S/Sgt. Mario Sembrano and Cpl. Paolo Navarro – had no personal knowledge of the burning of the effigy.

“The complainants stated in their joint affidavit that they are police officers assigned at the Anonas police station whose responsibility is to monitor all eventualities within their area of responsibility,” the resolution read.

“Meanwhile, the evidence revealed that the effigy burning happened along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, which is clearly beyond the area of responsibility of herein complainants,” the resolution added.

The prosecutor noted that the complainants did not submit evidence that would establish they were among the police officers deployed along Commonwealth Avenue.

What the police officers submitted as pieces of evidence, according to the prosecutor, were photographs lifted from Facebook.