Fiscal Castro enjoys "heavenly" support on Lapu appointment

CEBU - Though she has yet to receive a copy of her appointment as Lapu-Lapu City Municipal Trial Court in Cities judge, assistant Cebu City prosecutor Mary Ann Castro is already confident to get the post.

In an interview with The FREEMAN a day after rumors of her alleged appointment leaked from a supposed Malacañang insider, Castro said that her impending appointment as a judge is a fulfillment of a “sign” given to her by the Our Lady of Medallion seven years ago when she visited the shrine in Bogo City.

Castro said that there was a whisper on her ear, while she was praying in front of the Virgin Mary in Bogo City, that she will become a judge in 2010.

“Gitagaan na gyod ko og sign niadtong 2001 nga by 2010 mamahimo kong huwis,” Castro said.

As of this writing, Castro has yet to receive a copy of her appointment but she said there were already a lot of her friends who told her that her appointment was already signed by President Arroyo.

But reliable sources told The FREEMAN that there was no appointment for Castro that reached the table of the President. In fact, the source said that Castro was not even included in the list recommended for appointment by the Judicial and Bar Council.

Based on the record of publication of her application, Castro applied as city judge of Lapu-Lapu in July of this year.

On that same month, she was interviewed by the JBC members along with the eight other applicants. Castro admitted that she was being endorsed by a lady politician.

Though, she refused to name her but a source told The FREEMAN that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia endorsed her. Aside from political backing, Castro also claimed to enjoy “heavenly” backing.

“Admitihon nako nga malakas kaayo ko sa taas,” Castro said.

When asked to clarify on what she meant by such, Castro said she has “backing from heaven”. 

Castro is perceived to have strong political connections in Manila. In fact, despite the number of controversies that she has been into, she continues to hold sensitive position.

Castro has been facing numerous cases in Cebu. In fact, at present she has a criminal case before the anti-graft office for allegedly lying in court to get an annulment. She also has a pending case for bribery at the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

She was accused of immorality in the past after she was romantically linked to a married man. She also traded criminal charges with lawyer Vicente Fernandez.

Fernandez however told The FREEMAN yesterday that he is not going to block Castro’s appointment even as he admitted that her impending appointment would hurt the credibility of the judiciary.

“Dili gyod na makaayo apan tulubagon na sa mo-appoint niya,” Fernandez said. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)