Allies request help as prosecutor awaits surgery

IN THE face of rising hospital bills, a brother of Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Maria Theresa Casiño sought the Canadian Consulate’s help, while two groups of women lawyers also called for donations.

Casiño remained in the intensive care unit of a private hospital three days after a Canadian national, John Pope, shot her in the nape inside the Chief Justice Fernan Hall of Justice. Pope, who also shot and killed Dr. Reynold Rafols and lawyer Jubian Achas, died in the same incident.

“We visited the Canadian consul this morning with Atty. Mark Tolentino and Atty. Daphne Deguma, but the result was disappointing and futile,” said Jojo Cornejo, the prosecutor’s brother, in a text message to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

Honorary Consul Robert Lee declined to comment, but referred calls to the Canadian Embassy in Manila, whose trunkline remained inaccessible as of press time.

“We were exploring the possibility and asking for financial assistance. But we were told their hands are tied because it is the embassy in Manila that will decide everything,” said Cornejo.

His sister, a mother of two young children, was placed under observation for seven to 10 days while the bullet is still lodged in her nape.

Cornejo said the family is thankful to individual lawyers who deposited various amounts with the hospital where Casiño was admitted.

The prosecutor’s vision improved compared to the other day when she complained of blurry vision in her left eye, he added.

Cornejo earlier revealed that Casiño thought she was in the hospital because she had a heart attack.

“She did not know she was shot. She was aware of the incident and that she was rushed to the hospital, but thought she had a heart attack,” Cornejo told Sun.Star Cebu.

In a statement yesterday, the Cebu Lady Lawyers Association (CELLA) and the Federacion Internacional de Abogadas (FIDA Cebu Chapter) strongly condemned the shooting incidents last Jan. 22.

“We appeal to our friends, families, and concerned citizens to pray for the recovery of Assistant Prosecutor Casiño and likewise to help the family in defraying the rising cost of her medical expenses,” the groups said.

They said donations may be deposited to the Land Bank Acct. No. 01-474295-68 in the name of Atty. Rhett S. Casiño or given directly to Atty. Casiño, who may be reached at 0921-8125509 or at the ICU of Chong Hua Hospital. (PR)