Rape case vs witness protection marshal sent to Mandaue fiscal

REGIONAL State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane has designated a prosecutor in Mandaue City to conduct the preliminary investigation of the rape case filed against a marshal of the justice department’s Witness Protection Program.

Gubalane said he appointed Assistant City Prosecutor Felixberto Geromo after all prosecutors in Cebu City inhibited from handling the case against Romelo Pabroa.

“For this particular case, Prosecutor Geromo will be the acting Cebu City Prosecutor. He will conduct the preliminary investigation and then resolve the case based on the evidence submitted to him. As the acting city prosecutor, his findings will no longer have to be approved by anyone. He, himself, shall approve his resolution,” Gubalane explained.

Records of the case were already forwarded to Geromo.

Pabroa was accused of raping a 21-year-old woman who stayed at the DOJ safehouse in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The woman was a rape victim when she was placed under the government witness protection program.

Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon earlier granted Pabroa’s motion for all city fiscal s to inhibit from the case./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol