By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The murder charges filed against Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, and Moreto Floresin in connection to the death of Magdaleno ‘Nonong’ Grande were dismissed by the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.
Based on a resolution issued on May 24, 2019 and signed by Associate Prosecutor Ken Furuyama and Provincial Prosecutor Rodrigo Diaz, the murder charges were dropped as the complainant failed to sufficiently establish concurring elements, referring to both intent and the criminal act itself, which would be required to hold the accused liable.
In the complaint affidavit filed by former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel Jully Opiar, he claimed Garcia-Yulo ordered Grande’s killing in January 2016 after reportedly receiving word he had informed former Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña about her security aides being involved with illegal drugs, which eventually resulted in their termination from service.
Opiar’s claims were then corroborated by Garcia-Yulo’s former bodyguard, Robert Sualog, who claimed he heard the then-vice mayor giving the said order.
However, Garcia-Yulo forwarded a counter-affidavit denying the accusations, claiming “absolute biases” by the Moises Padilla municipal police.
She also denied allegations claiming she and Villaflor were members of the NPA, referring to the accusations as “nothing more but a scheme designed by her political opponents.”/DGB, WDJ