Ombudsman orders 7 cops to answer Castro’s complaint

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the seven members of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) and an insurance bond company to file their counter-affidavit with regard to the complaints filed by suspended assistant city prosecutor Mary Ann Castro against them.

Supt. Rex O. Derilo, Insp. Romeo C. Sentinta Jr., Senior Insp. Ruel L. Burlat, PO3 Joseph D. Bugtai, PO3 Cesar Pandong, SPO1 Roy Carlo E. Veloso, and PO2 Esmeraldo O. Quillosa, who are all assigned at the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office 7, were directed to file their counter-affidavits and those of their witnesses within 10 days from their receipt of the order.

The Ombudsman’s order dated May 30, 2016, was issued in connection with the complaint that Castro filed on March 14, 2016 against the seven RSOG officers, accusing them of alleged grave misconduct, among other charges.

Castro’s complaint against the RSOG officers stemmed from her allegations that they were hiding Maricel Gregory, the live-in partner of her estranged husband Greco Sanchez, who was facing four counts of libel complaint filed by Castro.

Last March 31, Castro and her six companions were arrested inside the RSOG office at Camp Sergio Osmeña in Cebu City for allegedly attacking Gregory.

The prosecutor allegedly went berserk, harassed the policemen, bit one of them, and ordered her companions to forcibly open the door of the room where Gregory was held under custody.

RSOG filed against Castro and her companions charges of direct assault and malicious mischief before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, to which all of them pleaded not guilty.

The Ombudsman’s order was likewise addressed to Alfredo Olen-Olen of Stronghold Insurance Bond Company, who was impleaded for what Castro alleged was their failure to inform the court that a fugitive was at the RSOG 7 office.

Failure of the RSOG officers to file a counter-affidavit within the required number of days will be construed as a waiver to their right to preliminary investigation while Castro’s failure to file an answer to the counter-affidavit that will be submitted will also be construed as waiver to present rebuttal evidence.

In such instance, the case will be deemed submitted for resolution on the basis of the evidence on record, without further notice.

However, lawyer Inocencio De la Cerna, legal counsel of the RSOG officers, said that they have not yet received the order.

“We have not received it yet, but we are ready to file our counter affidavit,” he said.