Palace orders Justice department to probe slay of ex-Cebu City prosecutor

Malacañang on Sunday expressed outrage over the ambush-slay of former Cebu City prosecutor Mary Ann Castro, and ordered the Justice department to immediately look into the matter.

"We are outraged by the brutal and brazen ambush of former Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro. The Department of Justice, through the National Bureau of Investigation, has been directed to immediately look into this dastardly crime, identify the perpetrators and bring them to the bar of justice," Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

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

He assured Castro's family, relatives, and friends that "justice will be served."

50-year-old Castro was shot dead last Friday, amid heightened police presence in Cebu City for the Sinulog Festival. Police said she was driving her car, a yellow Nissan, on Escario Street in Barangay Kamputhaw when ambushed.

Senior Inspector Edward Sanchez, Fuente Police Station chief, said Castro came from the Ayala area when still unidentified assailants shot her a few meters away from Cebu Park Lane.

Initial police report showed that Castro was still able to drive the vehicle some 100 meters before hitting the fence of a construction site.

The incident happened at 9:53 p.m., according to Sanchez. —LBG, GMA News