Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor and five others were freed Friday, June 24, from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, after posting bail of P200,000 each, for the murder charges filed against them over the death of municipal councilor Jolomar Hilario in 2019.
Their temporary liberty was ordered by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court Judge Anthony Dumpilo.
Vice Mayor Villaflor and Moises Padilla Councilor Jimmiedon Plaza spent more than eight months at the NBI custodial facility before being granted bail by the court.
On the other hand, Moises Padilla councilors Vincent Bryan Garcia and Morito Flores, Quinten Remo barangay captain Fely Villaflor and her husband, who are also respondents in the murder case, were detained at the town municipal jail for almost 10 months before gaining temporary freedom, also after posting bail.
Despite being under detention, Villaflor and Garcia won in their re-election bids in the May 9 polls, while Plaza and Flores lost.
All the respondents strongly debunked allegations of any involvement in the murder of their colleague, Hilario, whose death was claimed by the New People’s Army Leonardo Panaligan Command, in a statement it issued.
Former Isabela mayor Joselito Malabor, and barangay captains Armando Cordero and Amy Locsin, who were also linked to the murder of Hilario, are still under the NBI custody, pending the resolution of their manifestation before the Guihulngan RTC in Negros Oriental, to avail of bail.
The respondents vehemently denied the accusations against them./GB
