MURDER charges were filed against the two top officials of Moises Padilla relative to the killings of five persons in the locality.
Based on the copy of the documents forwarded to members of the media, the charges were filed last March 16, 2020 against Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor and 19 others at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Negros Occidental.
The documents were received by OIC Provincial Prosecutor Ma. Christy Uriarte.
According to the complaints filed by Ruby Caminade, Marilyn Bañares-Amable, Ma. Leny Ruales, and Agustin Grande III, they filed the complaint after the recent emergence of witnesses who have personal knowledge over the killings.
"It is prayed that after due notice to the named respondents, an immediate and favorable resolution be issued by your good office finding probable cause to charge/indict the respondents for violation of Article 248 [Murder] of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines," the documents said.
The family of the victims Rusty Caminade, Jose Joerito Amable, Michol June Ruales, and Magdaleno Grande have sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, last year, to review the affidavits that were filed by Jully Opiar and Robert Sualog after the earlier complaint was dismissed on the prosecutorial level.
Despite being dismissed, the said case can be refiled if the complainant can present new witnesses and evidences.
Both Garcia-Yulo and Villaflor have previously denied the allegations against them and that they will answer the allegations once they received a copy of the new charges filed against them.