By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
In response to Task Force Kasanag (TFK) commander John Chiong accusing Atty. Erfe del Castillo of filing cases in connection to an ambush that occurred last December on behalf of another party, she affirmed, “I am nobody’s puppet.”
She went on to characterize the claims as “unfounded speculation.”
“John Chiong is not a lawyer,” del Castillo said in a statement that was released to the media yesterday. “He should not comment on matters he knows nothing about.”
“Why is he so affected?” she added. “For his information, all his questions regarding the NBI [are] very elementary.”
Last Tuesday, Chiong questioned the case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against 11 suspects named by del Castillo, whom she claims conspired to kill her in a December 21, 2018 that resulted in the death of her fiancee Efren Palmares, Jr.
The NBI filed murder and frustrated murder cases at the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office against three police officials, two non-commissioned police officers, a businesswoman, lawyer, two civilians, a media practitioner, and other unidentified persons.
Chiong claimed the NBI did not follow the “correct process” when the case was filed.
The TFK official also questioned why del Castillo sought the assistance of the NBI regional office, which is located in Iloilo, and not the office in Bacolod City.
“Do they not trust the NBI-Bacolod?” he asked. “Public office is public trust, if they do not trust the NBI-Bacolod then they should remove them.”
Del Castillo responded: “It is the right of the complainant to choose where to file my complaint. In this case, Bacolod City is part of NBI WEVRO (Western Visayas Regional Office). I can even file a complaint with the NBI in Manila.”
“This matter is best left to the lawyers,” she added. “Not with persons who are only speculating about what should be and should not be done.”
The attorney also addressed Chiong directly, noting, “It is embarrassing that you are showing the people your lack of knowledge and claim to know it all.”/DGB, WDJ