PRO 7 Chief To Provide Legal Assistance To Personnel Who Filed Criminal Raps Against Cebu City Prosecutor

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, Wednesday said he will give full support to police personnel who filed five criminal cases against an assistant Cebu City prosecutor.

Gaerlan said Director General Ricardo Marquez, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has been informed of the incident.

Police on Tuesday filed complaints of direct assault, malicious mischief, grave coercion, grave oral defamation and resistance and disobedience to persons in authority were filed against Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro after she attacked the alleged live-in partner of her estranged husband late Monday night inside one of the offices of PRO 7.

The woman Castro attacked was already under police custody after she turned herself in upon knowing a court has issued arrest warrants against her.

Castro charged her with cyber libel cases.

Castro bit the left forearm of one police officer, Senior Inspector Ruel Burlat of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of PRO 7.

Six of Castro’s alleged cohorts were also charged with direct assault and disobedience and resistance to persons in authority.

Gaerlan said they will provide legal assistance to the policemen involved because they expect and long-drawn legal battle considering that the person they charged with crimes is a public prosecutor.

”We expect her to file counter-charges. But we will fully support our police personnel,” Gaerlan said.

Castro’s lawyers Wednesday filed a petition for habeas corpus in court against the police, alleging her arrest was without legal basis. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS