Nakakahiya (Shameful!)”
This was how former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima described Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro as she urged her to step down and save the prosecution service from shame.
“If I were her (Castro), I would resign. She’s been doing a lot of damage and injury to the institution,” an enraged De Lima told CDN over the phone yesterday.
De Lima likewise urged the Department of Justice to implement the six-month suspension meted to Castro, who was held administratively liable by the Ombudsman for Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, in May, 2003.
Castro filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals and ultimately to the Supreme Court, which affirmed an earlier ruling finding her liable for using her influence in asking the police to help her brother in a complaint regarding a defective vehicle he bought in 2001. To this, she filed a Motion for Reconsideration with the High Court, the resolution of which is still pending.
Cebu City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas said the DOJ and the Ombudsman had inquired about the status of the suspension order against Castro.
“But I don’t think a motion for reconsideration can stop the implementation of a suspension order,” Rabillas said.
She is awaiting instruction from DOJ regarding the implementation of Castro’s suspension.
INVESTIGATION
Meanwhile De Lima also said she requested Prosecutor General Claro Arellano to conduct an investigation on the latest incident involving Castro.
“(If Castro remains in office), it would be unfair to the other prosecutors in Cebu. They have been men and women of integrity and probity, and yet they are affected by the misconduct of Fiscal Castro,” De Lima said.
Sought for comment, Castro said De Lima should not be quick to judge her because the former Justice secretary might just need her vote to win in the senatorial race.
“Whatever is her opinion is hers. But I ask politicians not to use me for their grandeur. I’m no politician because being a prosecutor is God’s plan for me,” said Castro in a text message to CDN.
“Despite her bad assessment about me, I still respect her being a sister in the legal profession. And I hope she will give me the same respect. As they said respect begets respect,” she added.
PROBES
The DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman are conducting separate probes into various controversies involving Castro, said De Lima.
She said repeated acts of misconduct is a ground for dismissal from service.
“Masyadong malakas ang kanyang loob (She is too gutsy). My message to her is very clear: stop doing acts of misconduct,” she said.
De Lima, who is running for a senate seat under the Liberal Party, also criticized Castro for allegedly campaigning for the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Cebu gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia.
She said prosecutors are not allowed to campaign for anyone, saying it is a “brazen act of misconduct.”
Last Monday, 46-year-old Castro and six companions were arrested inside the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOG) office in Camp Sergio Osmeña in Cebu City for allegedly attacking her husband’s live-in partner whom she sued for four counts of libel.
She and her companions were charged with direct assault and malicious mischief before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities. They immediately posted bail to secure temporary liberty pending resolution of the charges.