Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Mathias Yulo, both face multiple criminal charges following an incident earlier this week in Barangay Crossing Magallon in the said municipality.

In an interview yesterday with Moises Padilla municipal police chief, Police Chief Inspector Alan Reloj, he denied the allegations of harassment made by the vice mayor.

In response to Garcia-Yulo pointing out bruises she incurred, Reloj denied he physically harmed her, explaining she fell while resisting arrest.

He added, after arresting the vice mayor, it took an additional 30 minutes to get to the police station after Yulo and her supporters converged upon the area where she was arrested.

Reloj pointed out Garcia-Yulo’s behavior, which he characterized as “arrogant,” claiming she hurled expletives at police officers as they were conducting a routine checkpoint.

Aside from the earlier reported .45 caliber pistol and grenades recovered from the vice mayor’s vehicle, the police chief also noted, two more .45 caliber firearms, a sachet of suspected shabu, and money amounting to P45,000 were seized.

He added, the recovered items were turned over to the Provincial Crime Laboratory in Bacolod City for further evaluation.

Meanwhile, Garcia-Yulo appeared at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) and took a drug test due to the recovered sachet of suspected illegal drugs.

The vice mayor said they are considering filing charges against the Moises Padilla municipal police and are just waiting for law enforcement to file charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives; as well as illegal drugs charges.

While she admitted to owning one of the .45 caliber pistols, which was registered, Garcia-Yulo claimed the other firearms, the two grenades, and the one sachet of suspected shabu were planted by police.

Earlier, the vice mayor was arrested on suspected links with the New People’s Army (NPA), allegations she has denied.

La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the vice mayor’s husband sought her assistance that night, claiming the vice mayor was being harassed by Reloj. Gunfire was reportedly heard when the arrest was made./DGB, WDJ