THE kin of beleaguered Moises Padilla vice mayor will seek the help of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa as they believed the allegations against the local official was orchestrated by the town’s police chief.
They will also seek the relief of Chief Inspector Allan Reloj, head of Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station.
Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Yulo III, are facing charges for illegal possession of explosives, a non-bailable offense.
The couple were arrested in a police checkpoint on December 19 at Crossing Magallon, Moises Padilla for alleged possession of firearms, grenades and illegal drugs.
The vice mayor’s brothers, Councilor Michael Garcia and Association of Barangay Captains president Jose Marcelino Garcia, met on Thursday, December 28, with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
Michael said they went to see the governor “to ask for his opinion and advice for our lawyer.”
He added that Marañon let them talk to Assistant Provincial Legal Officer Mary Ann Manayon-Lamis.
The brothers insisted that the allegations against their sister are fabricated.
Jose Marcelino said they don’t know the motive of Reloj for spreading lies.
He claimed the town police violated the standard operating procedures during the checkpoint, saying the policemen were not wearing uniforms.
“We don’t know if some of them are really policemen because they’re only wearing civilian clothes and have bonnets,” he added.
Earlier, the vice mayor said the town police harassed them at the checkpoint, but Reloj denied the accusation.
Jose Marcelino said they are now compiling the evidence that they will bring to De la Rosa.
He said that they will seek the help of the PNP national headquarters as it is the thrust of the administration to fight corruption among the police and officials.
The family also wrote Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., provincial police director, asking him to terminate Reloj as town police chief.
They have yet to hear from Castil on the matter.
Theft charges
Meanwhile, Michael Garcia said they filed theft charges against Reloj before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Bacolod City on Thursday, December 28.
He said he went to the site after learning his sister was arrested at the checkpoint, and the police chief took his cellphone when he tried to take a video of the situation.
Yulo herself filed a counter-affidavit at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office the other day.
The vice mayor and her husband are still detained at the town police station.
Resignation
Meanwhile, Jose Marcelino said he resigned from his post as the town's ABC president due to health reasons.
He said his doctor told him to take a rest and should not be stressed.
However, his resignation can't take effect yet as the post of the vice president was vacated because the official was elected as councilor.
For now, he will just take a leave of absence, he added.