By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, yesterday appealed for Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Mathias Segundo Yulo, to surrender to police after a warrant of arrest was recently issued against the couple.
Bulalacao said they have to follow the court’s order to arrest the couple; adding, if they continue to evade arrest, they could face more legal trouble.
The PRO-6 director said, if the two face their current charges, the issue can be resolved at an earlier time.
“I think she could defend herself,” Bulalacao said. “[The] truth will always come out and the vice mayor should think about it.”
With the warrant past its 10-day expiration period yesterday, Bulalacao said they can still arrest her wherever she goes as long as she is positively identified.
Last month, the La Carlota City Regional Trial Court-Branch 63 issued a warrant of arrest against the vice mayor and her husband following their arrest last year at a police checkpoint.
According to court documents dated August 20, 2018 and signed by Judge Cyclamen Jison-Fernandez, the warrant was issued for the alleged violation of RA 9516, an amendment to Presidential Decree No. 1866, which systemized gun laws and imposed stiffer penalties for violators.
A separate arrest warrant in violation of RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, was also issued.
The charge stemmed from two fragmentation grenades recovered from Garcia-Yulo’s vehicle after Moises Padilla municipal police chief, then under Police Chief Inspector Alan Reloj, conducted a search at a police checkpoint.
Garcia-Yulo and her husband are reportedly in hiding, despite the vice mayor previously filing a counter-affidavit, claiming the allegations are based “purely on highly malicious, erroneous and fabricated accusations.”
She also questioned the legality of the checkpoint and subsequent search, and claimed she was forcibly dragged out of her vehicle and handcuffed./DGB, WDJ