Prosecutor Castro to file case vs Board Member Sanchez

CEBU, Philippines - Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro will be filing a case against Cebu Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez for reportedly meddling in the investigation into the alleged carnapping of a Ford Ranger WildTrak owned by Sanchez’s brother who is Castro’s husband.

In an interview with the media, Castro explained that the car, which was reportedly stolen inside the Provincial Capitol last October 26, was hers.

Leodegreco “Greco” Sanchez, Castro’s husband, told reporters last week that it was after his meeting with PB Sanchez inside the Legislative Building when he found out that his car, which he parked outside the building, was stolen.

But Castro said that on October 13, the same car, which she owns, was also carnapped by two persons while being car washed on M. Velez Street, Cebu City.

Castro said she filed a report before the Highway Patrol Group-7 about the incident.

“I have already filed a case before the fiscal’s office against a certain Maricel Gregory and a John Doe who took and drove away my car on October 13 while it was being car washed in M. Velez Street,” she said.

But Castro said she was never informed that her car was already found nor was she told that HPG-7 has set aside her report and conducted an investigation into the alleged carnapping that happened at the Provincial Capitol parking lot on October 26.

“Puwede diay na nga ang sakyanan ma-carnap twice? Nganong by mere allegation of this Grecilda gi-set-aside ang akong report…without telling me and without giving me report nga na-recover na ang sakyanan,” she said.

Castro, who visited the HPG-7 headquarters yesterday, said that a case for grave abuse of authority against Sanchez will be lodged today at the office of the Ombudsman.

She added that the board member is “using her position, her authority and power to intimidate and harass” HPG-7 investigators.

She added that she knows Sanchez has been harassing HPG-7 because a police officer named Justine Sarsaba told her that Sanchez had been making numerous calls, even at dawn.

“Anong pakialam nya? Ako ang owner ako ang aggrieved,” she said.

Castro said it is hard to believe that there was a carnapping incident that took place at the Capitol because based on the affidavit of a witness in her husband’s case, the witness did not see her husband driving the car inside the Capitol compound. 

“The HPG did not give me a copy of the affidavit, ako ra gani gikawat og photograph, the witness said he did not notice nga ni-park ang WildTrak ang iyang na-notice nga nisulod at 11:47 of October 26 only the government vehicle and Hi-lux. Ang makita niya nga ninaog sa Hi-lux allegedly si Zaballero and then sa 11:57 allegedly nigawas ang WildTrak,” he said.

She added that on October 15 she sent a message to her husband asking him to return the vehicle but his reply was that the “WildTrak is in the custody of Gigi.” Castro got married to Greco just last August.

 “Way Gigi nga dapat maki-alam, kung tinood man gani ni puston gyud ni siya’g kaso,” she said.— (FREEMAN)