Irregularities in BI Prosecutor to keep out of case sans complaint

Despite the recent controversy assistant city prosecutor Mary Ann got into in her assignment at the Bureau of Immigration, regional state prosecutor Antonio Arellano will keep his hands off the case until a formal complaint reaches his office.

Castro, who was involved in several controversies before she was reassigned to the BI last February to assist in the investigation of administrative cases, has been accused of intervening in the investigation of foreigners allegedly violating immigration laws and hiring a private secretary without the authority from the bureau.

Arellano said the allegations have not been brought to his attention. Besides, Arellano said the matter should be addressed to the BI officials, who have operational control over Castro.

Arellano said BI regional director Geronimo Rosas did not bring the issue to his attention except that he received a letter the other day asking for the work schedule of Castro and assistant regional state prosecutor Vicente Mañalac.

Rosas allegedly asked for their work schedules so he will know how many hours the two detailed prosecutors should report to the bureau, but Arellano said over dyLA yesterday that Castro and Mañalac are not required to report to their respective office at the Palace of Justice but to the BI where they are detailed.

He warned Castro and Mañalac to stick to the assignments given to them and not to get directly involved in the operation of the bureau.

Rosas said he found out Castro went out of her way to intervene in the investigation of foreigners. He also questioned Castro's hiring of a private secretary and holding office at the immigration without valid appointment from the Civil Service Commission and for processing immigration documents.

It was allegedly through her private secretary that Castro received applications for alien control registration and conducted hearings, bypassing the immigration legal officers, despite the fact that this is beyond her authority. - Fred P. Languido