Sellon: Castro now under suspension

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon has implemented the three months suspension of assistant city prosecutor Mary Ann Castro even if the lady prosecutor was not officially served with the suspension order from the Department of Justice.

Sellon said Castro’s suspension took effect last week after a copy of the order of Secretary Leila De Lima was served to her office. It was Castro’s secretary who received the suspension order last Friday because the prosecutor did not report for work even if her vacation leave was over.

“Then it’s my secretary who is suspended. Officially, me, on leave and will submit medical certification after I recover. I have to avoid stress daw and irritants,” Castro said in a text message when sought for comment about her being considered officially suspended.

Sellon has instructed assistant city prosecutor Oscar Capacio to take charge in the delegation of the court assignments of Castro to other prosecutors.

Assistant prosecutors Ruso Zaragoza and Rhodna Bacatan were assigned to takeover as resident prosecutors of the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 and Municipal Trial Court in Cities, respectively, while Castro is under suspension.

De Lima ordered on May 3 the suspension of Castro for the period of three months without pay after she was found administratively guilty of misconduct by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

The case stemmed from a complaint for alleged forum shopping in her annulment case against her husband.

Castro allegedly made untruthful statement under oath in her verification and certification against forum shopping in the petition for annulment of marriage she filed in Barili.

She certified that no similar action has been filed yet when she already filed one before the RTC in Mandaue City. – (FREEMAN)