Cubicles of fiscals to be off limits to public

THE cubicles of provincial prosecutors in Cebu will be off limits to litigants in the wake of last month’s shooting rampage that killed a doctor and lawyer and severely injured a female prosecutor.

Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said those wishing to follow up the status of cases are required to proceed to their administrative office instead of heading directly to the prosecutors’ area.

“This policy is made for security reasons and to determine the number of individuals who follow up cases,” Petralba said in an interview.

He said assigned prosecutors will proceed to the administrative office to conduct inquest proceedings of arrested suspects.

Filing of cases shall also be made at the administrative office.

The cubicles of provincial prosecutors are located in an area across the administrative office at the Palace of Justice in Cebu City.

Security measures were enforced inside the building following the Jan. 22 shooting incident.

Canadian expatriate John Pope shot dead lawyer Jubian Achas and Dr. Rene Rafols inside the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6.

Pope later shot Asst. City Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño who was headed to MTCC Branch 1 at the time.

The gunman was later shot by police. But a court employees testified that Pope shot himself on the head.

Last Monday, Casiño underwent surgery to remove the slug at the back of her head.

She is presently recuperating at Chong Hua Hospital.

Funds were being raised to pay by her former colleagues at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) where she once worked as an arbiter to pay for her bills.Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol