NO BAIL has been recommended for San Francisco town Mayor Aly Arquillano and Vice Mayor Alfredo “Al” Arquillano Jr., who face charges of illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of explosives.
The brothers will remain detained at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) in Cebu City until they will be committed to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) on Monday, April 8.
The charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 were filed before the Regional Trial Court in Danao City afternoon of Friday, April 5.
The lawyers of the Arquillanos did not ask for a waiver for their release.
Police Capt. Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), said the prosecutor did not recommend bail because of the grenade seized from the possession of the Arquillanos.
The brothers were arrested on April 4 in their hometown in San Francisco, Camotes Island after a warranted search yielded firearms and a grenade.
With their arrest, the seats of mayor and vice mayor are left vacant. Under the succession rule, the first councilor succeeds as mayor.
But for vice mayor, President Rodrigo Duterte through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) needs to designate someone to sit as vice mayor, DILG 7 information officer Michael Braga said.
Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who is running for governor, saw the arrest of the Arquillanos as setting a precedent to harassment of allies of her political party Bakud.
Magpale vented out her worry during the “Klarohay Ta” candidates’ forum held at the University of San Carlos Main campus on Friday, April 5.
Magpale said though Bakud remains strong, she hopes that the Arquillano brothers’ arrest was the last and not the first in a series of political harassments that will affect their group.
She said the Arquillano brothers have led a town considered to be a “stronghold” of the Bakud Party in the fifth district.
Magpale’s running mate, incumbent Cebu Gov.Hilario Davide III, urged local police to remain neutral in the May elections.
PDEU chief Batobalonos had said that the police had received reports of the brothers, who are now on their last terms, being secured by armed men.
Mayor Aly and Vice Mayor Al owned up to the guns but not the grenade.
Mayor Aly said he did not want a grenade lying around in his house lest this go off.
Vice Mayor Al said he had turned over the .45 pistol to the municipal treasurer’s office because its license had expired.
San Francisco, one of the four towns in Camotes Island under Cebu’s fifth district, has been placed under “Orange Alert” status because of the intense political rivalry. (from reports of AYB of SuperBalita Cebu, JKV & RVC of SunStar Cebu)