DOJ to probe MTRCB exec’s complaint vs prosecutor

(From left) Task Force Kasanag national commander John Chiong, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, MTRCB Director Kate Brios, and Atty. Jomax Ortix in a press conference on Saturday. (Dolly Yasa)

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Presidential Spokesman Atty. Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Department of Justice to investigate the complaints of businesswoman Kate Brios against Provincial Prosecutor Erfe Del Castillo.

Panelo was here Saturday as President Duterte’ representative in the closing ceremonies of the 40th MassKara Festival.

In a presscon with Brios, Task Force Kasanag national commander John Chiong and lawyer Jomax Ortiz Panelo confirmed that Brios met with the President to seek his help.

Brios claimed that del Castillo is facing many charges and questioned how the latter could be appointed as a prosecutor.

“The DOJ will conduct an investigation on this,” Panelo said.

In the same press con, Brios, who is also a director of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTCB), slammed the allegations of Del Castillo that she was involved in the latter’s ambush in December 2018 and was in cahoots with former policeman Clarence Dongail who was convicted for the kidnap-murder of Pahanocoy village chief Eleuterio Salabas along with two other police officers in 2011.

Brios also slammed Del Castillo’s inconsistency, pointing out that in a previous press conference, Del Castillo claimed Brios was the mastermind in the ambush that nearly killed her, while in another presscon, Del Castillo named Dongail as the mastermind.

“[Del Castillo] claims that I’m a best friend of Dongail’s wife. I didn’t even know Dongail’s face or his wife except from news excerpts,” Brios said.

“She is inconsistent and is very apparent these are all a product of her wild imagination and hallucination,” Brios added.

Del Castillo could not be reached for comment as of this writing.