THE Regional Trial Court in Danao City has granted the petition for bail that San Francisco, Camotes Mayor Aly Arquillano and his brother Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. filed.
Retired judge Meinrado Paredes, who serves as the lead counsel of the two accused, confirmed the development.
Paredes said that as of Thursday, May 2, he had yet to get a copy of the order, but he was informed about the development.
The two officials were charged with violating Republic Act (RA) 9516 for illegal possession of explosives and RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The illegal possession of explosives is a non-bailable offense. That is why the Arquillanos camp had to file a petition for bail.
“If the prosecution will fail to prove that the evidence of guilt is strong, the non-bailable offense will be bailable,” Paredes said.
Apart from the petition for bail, Paredes said they are also waiting for the court decision on the motion they filed to quash the search warrant.
Back to normal
If granted, the warrant will be nullified, he said.
Mayor Aly said that with their release, the town’s operations should return to normal.
“Nagpasalamat ko sa mga tawo (I’m thankful to the people),” he said to supporters who waited to greet the siblings.
The mayor, however, refused to give further comment as they are allegedly barred from issuing statements on the issue.
The Arquillanos were arrested last April 4 by members of the Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit for alleged illegal possession of firearms and a hand grenade.
“They were trying to silence Mayor Aly and Vice Mayor Al, pero karon akong nakita nga mura na hinoon sila og heroes diri ba (but it looks like their ordeal has turned them into heroes),” Danao Mayor Ramonito Durano told SunStar Cebu.
Durano accompanied the brothers on their return to Camotes Island from Danao City.
More than 200 supporters cheered and welcomed them with tarpaulins and a Drum and Bugle Corps at the Consuelo Port last Thursday night, May 2.
Nonie Donaire, campaign manager of the Arquillanos, said the bail they posted for both Aly and Al amounted to P750,000.
With the Arquillanos’ release, a special session called by acting mayor Aaron Capao that was scheduled late Thursday afternoon was canceled.
Business at hand
The Municipal Council was supposed to discuss matters, including services that were crippled like garbage collection, payroll and pending business permit applications, among others, after the mayor and vice mayor were taken into custody.
Councilor Hector Capao, who is running for mayor, said the council had stopped having regular sessions since then. “Dili man mi ma-quorum (We could not reach a quorum),” he said.
In a separate interview, Rosalinda Serion, head of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that she was the one who suggested to the council to adopt the resolution of the Provincial Board declaring the entire province under a state of calamity due to the dry spell brought about by the El Niño.
“As of now, naghatag na mi og (we’ve given an) El Niño situation report to the three water cooperatives to survey the status of their crops, fisheries and water resources,” she said.
Three barangays in the south district of San Francisco town have reportedly been experiencing water shortages.
The Arquillano brothers went directly to their ancestral house in Southern Poblacion upon arrival in San Francisco.
A thanksgiving mass is scheduled at 7 a.m. Friday, May 3, at the St. Joseph Parish. (RVC, WBS)