Fiscal Castro faces 3-month suspension

THE Ombudsman mandated the Department of Justice (DOJ) to implement the three-month suspension of Prosecutor May Ann Castro who was found guilty of misconduct.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by brothers Nanak and Jake Yu who accused Castro of violating a Supreme Court rule on “non-forum shopping” by filing a petition for annulment of her marriage in two different courts.

In an interview, Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane said he will implement Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s order that he received by fax yesterday.

Castro will serve her suspension once she receives a copy of the order and the memorandum from Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon.

Sellon said cases handled by Castro will be distributed to other prosecutors, he said.

“We will keep the feelings to ourselves. (But) unless the Ombudsman recalls their decision, (we have to implement the suspension order).”

Castro is on “special vacation leave” starting yesterday until today.

She said she will issue her comments when she reports today.