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Detained Moises Padilla officials granted bail

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BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor (left) with Councilor Jimmiedon Plaza show copies of the court order allowing them to post bail.*

The Guihulngan Regional Trial Court in Negros Oriental has granted bail of P200,000 each against four Moises Padilla officials, who were charged for murder, in connection with the death of a municipal councilor in 2019.

Respondents Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, Councilors Vincent Bryan Garcia, Morito Flores and Jimmiedon Plaza, as well as Quinten Remo, barangay captain Fely Villaflor and husband Jonathan, were released on Friday from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police respectively, as ordered by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court Judge Anthony Dumpilo, after posting bail of P200,000 each.

All the respondents, who spent eight to 10 months under NBI and police custody, in what they called were “trumped up” charges, strongly debunked the allegations against them in connection with the killing of Moises Padilla Councilor Jolomar Hilario three years ago.

During the 2019 elections, Moises Padilla was placed under Comelec control following spate of killings in the town. Among the victims were Councilor Michael Garcia and his uncle, former ABC president Mark Garcia.

Incumbent Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, then a town vice mayor, was survived an ambush attempt in 2019.

Despite being detained, Vice Mayor Villaflor and Councilor Vincent Bryan Garcia won their reelection bids, but Plaza and Flores did not make it.

The death of Hilario was claimed by the New People’s Army Leonardo Panaligan Command, in a statement it issued.

Former Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, barangay captain Armando Cordero and barangay chairperson Amy Locsin, who were also linked to the murder of Hilario, are also under the NBI custody, pending resolution of their manifestation before the Guihulngan RTC in Negros Oriental, to avail of bail.

The respondents also vehemently denied the accusations.*

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