CEBU CITY, Philippines - Controversial prosecutor Mary Ann Castro says she has two top backers for her goal to become a judge – one from politics, the other of a more divine nature.No official appointment has been issued yet, but Castro said she heard from several sources, including lawyers, that she was in the running to be appointed as a judge for the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) of Lapu-Lapu City. Since then, she has put her faith in her “top backer,” but it was not one from Malacañang as some had suspected, she said. “It's a Heavenly backer, Jesus Christ,” Castro said in an interview over radio dyLA.
Castro did not name her earth-bound backer in politics, describing the lady supporter only as “a friend.” Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Monday admitted that it was she who endorsed Castro for a seat in the judiciary. Castro claimed that the divine sign of support came during a visit to the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Bogo City sometime in 2000 or 2001. “I was just visiting there. I went up (to the shrine). I heard a voice whisper to me that I'll be come a judge by 2010,” she said. Castro said she has since considered it her destiny to become a judge.
Aware that she had many controversies surrounding her, she pointed out that of the 10 cases that were slapped against her, nine have been dismissed while one is still pending with the court.
She asked the public to give her a chance.
“I'm a good performer. I have not stepped on anyone's feet,” she said. “It is the Lord who is making plans for us. We can do nothing but abide by His will.” Castro said she visited the Our Lady of the Rosary of Lindogon, Simala from Sibonga, which was in Cebu City over the weekend, to ask for a sign if being a judge was her path.
But until that sign comes, Castro added that she was still happy in her present assignment at the Bureau of Immigration.
Governor Garcia, in a separate interview, admitted that she endorsed Castro as a nominee for the bench.
While the governor said she could no longer remember when she signed the endorsement papers, she said she had even endorsed Castro twice - for the MTCC position, and for another post which the governor refused to reveal. “I looked at her qualifications and found that she was up to the positions,” Garcia said. She said she did not let the rumors surrounding Castro affect the endorsement.
“How do you rate a controversy? What about the controversies that media did not write about?” Garcia asked. While Garcia pointed out that the law does not lay guilt on anyone unless convicted in court, she also said that even people who have done wrong should not be deprived of an opportunity to redeem themselves.
“Do all of us really have a spotless record?... I want to look at the qualifications, if these will not defeat the position that the person has applied for,” she said. Garcia said that had she been judgmental, she “would not have united Cebu.” “I always want to give a person the benefit of the doubt. Everybody deserves as many chances as he or she can get,” she said. | 
