BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Another incumbent councilor of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, who is facing murder charges in connection with the death of former councilor Jolomar Hilario in 2019, surrendered yesterday to the town police.
This was confirmed by P/Maj. Randy Babor, Moises Padilla police chief, who said that other respondents in the murder charge may also yield.
The surrender of Moises Padilla Councilor Vincent Garcia, nephew of Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, came several days after Quintin Remo Barangay Captain Felisa Villaflor, her husband, Jonathan Villaflor, and Councilor Jose Morito Flores, gave themselves up to the police on Aug. 23.
The respondents said they are innocent of the charges against them.
Hilario, 51, who was running for re-election in 2019, was murdered in his home in Moises Padilla.
The NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command had claimed responsibility for the killing, and accused Hilario of being a military asset.
The surrender of Garcia came after Garcia-Yulo urged her nephew, Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, Councilor Jimmiedon Plaza, and other respondents to face squarely the accusations against them in court, adding that she believes that they are innocent.
Babor said the four surrendered suspects are temporarily detained at the Moises Padilla police custodial facility, pending the issuance of a commitment order by the court, for their transfer to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facilities.*
