Castro out of Cebu City, takes temp job in Talisay

SAYING she wants to live peacefully, Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro is now willing to serve the six-month suspension without pay meted her by the Supreme Court.

In the meantime, she will assume as legal officer of Talisay City,  a job that she said Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes offered her.

“I decided to buy peace at all cost. Out muna ako sa Cebu City. (I’ll be temporarily out of the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office),” Castro said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

She has also withdrawn the complaint she filed before the Police Regional Office (PRO 7) against the policemen of the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOG), who arrested her and her six companions last March 7 for allegedly attacking her husband’s live-in partner whom she sued for four counts of libel.

Castro and her companions were charged with direct assault and malicious mischief before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities. They are out on bail.

The 46-year-old prosecutor said she went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week to inform the Justice Secretary that she will no longer contest the High Court’s ruling and instead serve the six-month suspension.

She stopped performing her duties and functions as a prosecutor last March 16.

Both Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane and Cebu City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas said they have not received any formal communication from the DOJ regarding Castro’s suspension.

“But we have received a letter from her (Castro), expressing her decision to voluntarily serve the suspension,” Rabillas told CDN.

“Hence, if she’s already serving her suspension, she shall temporarily stop performing her duties and functions as a prosecutor, and all her salaries and allowances shall be withheld,” Rabillas added.

The High Court affirmed last year the ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman, which suspended Castro for abusing her position. But instead of a three-month suspension, the High Court increased the penalty to six months.

The Ombudsman found Castro guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in 2004 for asking the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) to help her brother who complained about a defective vehicle bought in 2001.

The SC said Castro’s acts send a wrong impression that public officials could use and exploit the police force for their personal interests. Castro had filed a motion for reconsideration.

The case stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by businesswoman Emily Rose Ko Lim Chao who accused the feisty prosecutor of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.