Moises Padilla SB Member Garcia surrenders

A few days after Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo urged Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, and Councilors Jimmiedon Plaza and Vincent Garcia to surrender in view of the warrant of arrest issued in February in connection with the killing of Councilor Jolomar Hilario in 2019, Councilor Vincent Garcia turned himself in to police authorities in the town yesterday.

Sangguniang Bayan Member Vincent Garcia maintained his earlier pronouncement he is innocent of the crime, which was owned up by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The councilor, while his surrender was being processed and he was being medically checked up at the municipal police station, said the truth will come out and bring back his freedom.

Mayor Garcia-Yulo has urged them to give up so the court can proceed with the trials she said will bring out the truth that will subsequently free them.

“The first step to freedom is to surrender. If you won’t surrender the case will not move … will take a long time. Once the case is in motion, the court will see the truth… You just have to go through the process,” the mayor said.

Earlier, the mayor facilitated the surrender of three others implicated in the crime – Quintin Remo Barangay Captain Felisa Villaflor and husband Jonathan Villaflor, and Councilor Jose Morito Flores. The three have maintained innocence of the charges.

The mayor who was also implicated in the crime was cleared after it was proven that she was in prison then.* (Arman P. Toga)