Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor expressed relief and gratitude following the dismissal of the murder case against him and 13 others in connection with the 2019 killing of Moises Padilla Councilor Jolomar Hilario.

In a February 28 decision, Guihulngan City Regional Trial Court Branch 64 Acting Presiding Judge Ma. Anna Priscila Pareja acquitted the accused of Hilario’s fatal shooting inside his home on March 31, 2019.

Villaflor thanked God for the court’s ruling, stating that it affirms their innocence.

Among the other accused were Moises Padilla Councilor Vincent Bryan Garcia and former Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor.

The case was dismissed after the complainant showed no interest in pursuing it, failing to attend three hearings.

The court also directed the complainant’s lawyers to formally inform the public prosecutor of their withdrawal via email, but no pleading was submitted.

Earlier, the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 dismissed the murder charges filed against five officials in Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla town after four years of litigation.

The court granted the motion to dismiss the case against Garcia, Barangay Captain Felisa Villaflor, Jonathan Villaflor, and Jose Morito Flores.

The court, private complainant Francis Leo Hilario and his counsel, Atty. Yvonne Gulmatico-Cioco and Atty. Ciro dela Cruz, failed to appear in multiple hearings without justifiable reasons.

Following the dismissal, the court ordered the release of the accused from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Bago City.

It also directed that their bail bonds be returned upon presentation of proper receipts.

The private complainant and his legal team were given 30 days to reimburse the expenses incurred by the accused and their counsel./WDJ