BARANGAY 35 village chief Manuel Huelar Jr. of Bacolod City surrendered to police Wednesday after he failed to comply with the property bondfor his provisional liberty for robbery and carnapping cases.
Huelar told Sun.Star Bacolod that on Wednesday morning, he was at Regional Trial Court Branch 54 when Judge Eduardo Sayson did not honor his property bond for lack of supporting documents.
He said Sayson informed Police Officer 2 Jorlito Roldan, who is detailed at the Hall of Justice, to accompany him so that he could replace the property that he presented in court for his P280,000 bail.
In March this year, Sayson issued an arrest warrant against Huelar and three others for robbery with P100,000 bail each.
The same court also issued another warrant against Huelar and Buddy Magbanua for violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972. The court set a bail of P180,000 each.
Huelar said the property he used for his bond was owned by a friend of his sister.
During the last hearing, they were given 10 days to return to the court to authenticate the property, but they failed to do so.
Huelar said Sayson advised him to find a new property to replace his property bond.
Huelar was endorsed to Police Station 2, and is now in the custody of Police Station 1.
The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Susan, Mike, Jea Ann and Rolando Permano, and John Francis Lingco, all of Barangay Mansilingan.
They said that Huelar and the other suspects entered the residence of Mike Permano without permission on May 17, 2015, and took several items with them, including a wall clock, wristwatch, wallet, a speaker box, four unserviceable cellphones, and a motorcycle, among others.
Aside for robbery and carnapping, Huelar also has an arrest warrant for two counts of grave coercion and two counts of arbitrary detention issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 Judge Napoleon Diamante on February 22, 2016.
Huelar said he already posted bail on these cases.
He clarified that he was not hiding and he is willing to face the charges filed against him.
Huelar also denied that he committed the crimes.
“I'm just doing my job to help my constituents and I did not harass them,” he said.
Huelar added they are still looking for a property for his bond, but for now, he will stay in the custody of Police Station 1.