TASK Force Kasanag will bring to the attention of the Department of Justice the alleged delayed release from police detention of Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and husband Felix Matias Yulo III.
Founding chairman John Chiong said in a press conference yesterday that Provincial Prosecutor Ma. Consolacion Bascug ordered the release of the couple on December 29, 2017, but they were released by the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station led by Senior Inspector Allan Reloj only on January 6.
Chiong said that Reloj, who also led the arrest of the Yulo couple in a checkpoint on December 19, is answerable for the delay in their release especially that he was furnished a copy of the order.
“It’s also sad to note that the vice mayor and her husband should have been released from detention before the new year. It’s unfortunate that they spent their new year at the detention,” he added.
He said the order was received by Reloj on the date that it was signed by the prosecutor.
“We will bring this up to the attention of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre so that he would be aware of what is happening here,” Chiong said.
He pointed out that with the advent of technology, the delay is highly questionable and unfair to the Yulos.
The vice mayor’s family has asked for assistance from the Task Force Kasanag as they alleged that evidence against the couple were planted.
The Yulo couple, who were arrested by the police for alleged possession of firearms, grenades and illegal drugs, was released from custody over the weekend due to insufficient evidence.
The illegal possession of explosives case had “no leg to stand on,” according to the resolution.
On the illegal possession of firearms charge, there is insufficient evidence to continue with the inquest investigation without prejudice to the conduct of regular preliminary investigation, Bascug said.