Erik Matti appeals for financial help for filmmaker Jade Castro

Filmmakers Erik Matti and Jade Castro. Image: Instagram/@erikmatti, Instagram/@Jade Castro

Erik Matti asked for help in raising funds for the legal fees of fellow filmmaker Jade Castro, who was earlier arrested in Quezon Province over suspected arson.

Matti shared a fundraising call for Castro, whom he described as his friend and colleague, via the former’s Facebook page on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

“Jade Castro has been detained since Feb. 1, 2024, without a warrant, for a crime he did not commit,” the post read.

“Jade is many things: a respected filmmaker, a beloved teacher, a cherished son, brother, and a true friend. He is not a criminal,” it further said.

It added that the film community stands by Castro’s character and “believes in his innocence without question.”

“His legal fees are mounting. We are now raising the money he needs to fight this. Help,” it appealed.

In a separate post, Matti agreed with film producer Moira Lang who stressed that Castro’s case is “not an isolated incident” and that “something more sinister” is behind it.

“Bopol talaga mga pulis!” Matti said in the caption. (The police are stupid!)

Castro, along with civil engineers Noel Mariano and Dominic Ramos and sales manager Ernesto Orcine, was arrested by authorities last Feb. 1, after being accused of burning down a modern passenger vehicle in Catanauan, Quezon Province.

The four of them were reportedly apprehended without any warrant, and the allegations against them were based on the claims of witnesses who said the suspects wore bonnets prior to the incident.

Castro asserted their innocence and stressed that they were on a vacation in Mulanay town, which is around 40 minutes away from Catanauan where the incident happened.