Suspended Asst. Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Suspended Asst. Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro yesterday filed a damage suit against 11 police officers she accused of violating her rights and humiliating her in a confrontation inside Camp Sergio Osmeña last March 7.
The prosecutor went to the Regional Trial Court in Talisay City at past 10 a.m. yesterday to file the civil case against the respondents.
She’s seeking at least P667,100 in damages from respondents Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Supt. Rex Derilo, Senior Insp. Romeo Sentinta Jr., Senior Insp. Ruel Burlat, SPO1 Roy Carlo Veloso, PO3 Joseph Bugtai, PO2 Esmeraldo Quillosa, PO3 Cesar Pandong, PO3 Albert Luardo, PO1 Khristine Jean Quibod, and PO1 Hyacinth Clavano.
“Since there are 11 defendants, more or else I’m asking for almost a million pesos from each of them. And so they are making me richer.
Hopefully, the PO1s can pay that amount,” Castro told reporters.
Castro said she will also request the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate these police officers who arrested her.
She said Gaerlan, former director of Police Regional Office-7, specifically requested Cebu City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas to relieve her of her court duties.
Aside from suffering “mental anguish and humiliation,” Castro said she suffered multiple bruises due to being allegedly mauled by the police officers.
Castro and her six companions were arrested inside the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) 7 office for allegedly attacking her estranged husband’s live-in partner whom she sued on four counts of libel.
The 46-year-old prosecutor allegedly went berserk, harassed the policemen, bit one of them, and ordered her companions to forcibly open the door of the room where Maricel Gregory, the live-in partner of her estranged husband Greco Sanchez, was held under custody.
Castro 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.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy chief of operations of PRO-7, said they will provide legal support to their police officers.
“With due respect to Fiscal Castro, we also have the right to defend ourselves,” he said.
Gaerlan also said he is willing to return to Cebu to face the charges in court.
“Of course, I will answer her charges in right forum,” he said.