Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) operatives arrested San Francisco Mayor Aly Arquillano (left) and Vice Mayor Al Arquillano for the alleged possession of high-powered firearms./ PIB photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The camp of San Francisco Mayor Aly Arquillano and his younger brother, Al, will be asking the court to invalidate the search warrant that lead to their arrest and the confiscation of firearms and explosives from their ancestral house.
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes, the counsel for the Arquillano brothers, also said that the Regional Trial Court in Barili which issued the search warrant has no territorial jurisdiction over San Francisco town located in Camotes Island.
“The search warrant is null and void because it was issued by a court with no territorial jurisdiction over San Francisco where the crime (illegal possession of firearms) supposedly happened,” Paredes said in a press conference on Sunday, April 7.
Paredes explained that unless there was a compelling reason, the search warrant should not have also been issued by the court.
Read More: San Francisco mayor, vice mayor in trouble for possession of firearms, explosives
However, Paredes said that they will have to wait for the case against the Arquillano brothers to be filed in court before they will also submit their pleadings.
Aside from seeking to quash the search warrant, Paredes said they will also be asking the court to recommend a bail for the temporary liberty of the two town officials.
The filing of a complaint for the illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the Arquillano brothers is set on Monday, April 8, at the Regional Trial Court in Danao City.
The Arquillano brothers are currently detained at the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO)./dcb