ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro hailed the dismissal of the refiled case against teacher Ronnel Mas following his arrest last year over a social media post offering a P50 million bounty to anyone who can kill President Duterte.

Castro also called for accountability for the perpetrators responsible for the filing of trumped up charges against the teacher, who was charged with inciting to sedition.

“We once again welcome the dismissal order released by the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Olongapo City on the charges against teacher Ronnel Mas. The decision cited that the case be dismissed for lack of probable cause,” Castro said.

“This case was already the resurrected case of the NBI against teacher Ronnel which was quashed by the Regional Trial Court. Patong-patong na human rights violations mula noong ilegal siyang inaresto, pinaamin, pinahiya at tinortyur. Dapat talagang managot ang mga gumawa nito kay Teacher Ronnel,” the lady solon added.

Castro assured to continue to fight the attacks on free speech and the state’s effort to censor people and continue to fight the state’s attacks on basic human rights amid the Covid19 pandemic.

The lady solon also called for accountability to those who caused trauma and stress to the aggrieved teacher.

“It is a hypocrisy of law enforcement when ordinary people are arrested, harassed and threatened for posting on social media, while the President continues his tirades against his critics,” Castro further said.

“Dapat may managot sa ginawang harassment laban kay Teacher Ronnel Mas na napatunayan na sa pangalawang pagkakataon na walang sala,” she added.