Cebu City Asst. Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro is all smiles as she is accompanied by her lawyer, Vesmind Santiago, during their hearing at the sala of Judge Francisco Seville of the MTCC Branch 7. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
SUSPENDD Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro and six coaccused all entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of direct assault and one count of malicious mischief at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC-7) yesterday.
After entering their plea, presiding Judge Francisco Seville referred the case for mediation on June 23.
The case filed by members of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) is also scheduled for judicial dispute resolution on Aug. 11 if mediation fails, Castro’s lawyer Jonah John Ungab said.
Ungab said they were not ruling out the possibility of a settlement.
Lawyer Innocencio dela Cerna, counsel for the complainants, said he has yet to consult his clients on this.
Castro said some reporters who were present during her altercation with RSOG members at the Camp Sergio Osmeña headquarters may be summoned to testify on the case.
“We’re planning to ask the court in Talisay City to issue a subpoena to the media members who were present during that incident to testify on what really happened,” Vesmind Santiago, one of Castro’s lawyers, said.
Dela Cerna said Castro’s damage claim was initially set at P11 million, but his camp was recently informed that it is now set at P600,000.
He said his clients, likewise, filed a counterclaim for P22 million against Castro.
Castro allegedly attacked the rumored live-in partner of her estranged husband Leodegreco Sanchez inside the RSOG office and allegedly bit a policeman who tried to stop her last March 7.
Also included in the case were Gaudiosa A. Rodrigo, Hazel N. Mabuyo, Jonas B. Ninez, Leo E. Suaso, William S. Contamina, and Benjielito H. Lapera.
All of them were present during yesterday’s arraignment.
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