PRO-Western Visayas chief urges Yulo couple to surrender

CHIEF Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas is urging Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Mathias Segundo Yulo III, to surrender to the authorities.

This, after La Carlota City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 63 Judge Cyclamen Jison-Fernandez issued two arrest warrants against the couple for illegal possession of explosives and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition on August 20.

The warrant of arrest for illegal possession of explosives has no bail while the other arrest warrant has a bail of P200, 000 each.

The warrants of arrest were received by the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station on August 24.

"Since there is an order from the court, we will follow what has been issued by the court," Bulalacao said.

"If I were the vice mayor, I will surrender," Bulalacao said, claiming that he also know her.

Bulalacao said the vice mayor and her husband will face more problems if they continue to evade arrest.

He said they can just defend the accusations against them in court because the "truth will always come out."

Chief Inspector Edfel Balibadlan, town police chief, earlier said they have 10 days to serve the arrest warrants against the couple. But as of Sunday, September 2, the ninth day, the couple has yet to surface.

Bulalacao said an alias warrant will be issued against the couple to arrest them anywhere through the help of other operating units in the law enforcement.

"I am urging her to surrender now so that she can face and resolve the problem this early," he added.

When asked for the vice mayor's security, Bulalacao said there is no threat on her security, based on the assessment of the policemen in the province.

In December 2017, the couple was arrested at Crossing Magallon, in a police checkpoint led by Senior Inspector Allan Reloj, former Moises Padilla town police chief, which resulted to the alleged confiscation of two fragmentation grenades and several other firearms and alleged illegal drugs.

However, the drugs were later found to be "fake" after it was closely examined at the Provincial Crime Laboratory.

Garcia-Yulo, meanwhile, has also filed a counter-affidavit following her arrest last year, claiming the allegations are based “purely on highly malicious, erroneous and fabricated accusations.”

Lawyer Karol Joseph Chiu, the couple's lawyer, earlier said there is still a pending petition for review before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and that they are also contemplating of filing a motion for bail.

Chiu said his clients are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. (GYM)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph