Malacanang vows justice for slain ex-prosecutor in Cebu

January 20, 2019

Malacañang on Sunday expressed outraged on the death of former Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro.

"We are outraged by the brutal and brazen ambush of former Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

He said the Department of Justice, through the National Bureau of Investigation, has been directed to immediately look into the incident, identify the perpetrators and bring them to prison to give Castro justice.

The Philippine National Police has also been directed to check into possible lapses, if any, considering the incident happened during an election gun ban.

"We assure everyone, including the family, relatives and friends of Ms. Castro that justice will be served," the spokesperson said.

A gunman riding a motorcycle shot Castro while she was inside the car on January 17.

Castro sustained a single bullet wound to her neck that went through and came out of her right jaw. Her car swerved to the opposite lane and rammed the perimeter fence of a construction site.

Authorities are linking the incident at personal grudge or work-related issues since Castro was actively prosecuting drug cases in the past. Ella Dionisio/DMS