Libel cases against Sanchez dismissed

LIBEL complaints filed by Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro against her sister-in-law, Provincial Board (PB) Member Grecilda Sanchez were dismissed for lack of basis.

Acting Talisay City Prosecutor Raymund Gultiano issued the resolution on Dec. 23, 2015.

Prosecutor  Castro whose relations with the legislator were strained after  marrying  Sanchez’s younger brother Greco soon after his release from a rehabilitation center, accused Sanchez of sending her defamatory text messages last Oct. 23 and 24.

The city prosecutor demanded P50 million in   damages saying she was insulted by Sanchez calling her names and accusing her of being a “gold digger.”

The fiscal said the messages came from an unknown number but that she was able to trace the mobile phone to the board member with the help of friends.

Castro said she once contacted the number using another mobile phone and that her sister-in-law answered it.

In dimissing the complaints, Prosecutor Gultiano said Castro failed to produce evidence.

He said he   found the allegation that it was Sanchez who sent the text messages merely presumptive.

“There is no sufficient evidence on record that it was the respondent who indeed sent the same and that the phone used belong(ed) to her,” he said.

There was  no affidavit from any of Castro’s friends who allegedly lent their cellular phones for her to use in calling the unknown phone number.

Castro had her affidavit subscribed before Talisay Chief Prosecutor Marshall Rubia on Oct. 27 but Rubia  inhibited from the case and  referred it to Gultiano who is based in Danao City.

In a text message to Cebu Daily News,  Castro said the she found no problem in the dismissal.

“Give love on Christmas days especially that she is my beloved sister-in-law. Tell her congratulations,” she added.

She also said she misses her “beloved sister-in-law so much.”

Castro is married to Sanchez’s younger brother, Leodegreco.

The couple  were united in a Muslim rite  in August last year but  separated after one month.

PB Member Sanchez, in a separate interview, said that what Castro was doing was a form of “malicious prosecution.”

Aside from libel charges, Castro has also filed administrative charges against Sanchez  before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“She’s accusing me of anything she can think of, making stories up,” said Sanchez.

The Capitol official said she intends to file charges for malicious prosecution against Castro.

She said that if she were to sue for damages, she  would only ask for one peso.