San Francisco town mayor, vice mayor freed after posting P750K bail

San Francisco’s top officials: Al Arquillano (left) and Aly Arquillano (right), are  placed under the custody of the Cebu Provincial Police Office’s Provincial Intelligence Branch on April 4, 2019 after their house was raided by the police. | CDN Digital file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Arrested San Francisco town Mayor Aly Arquillano and Vice Mayor Al Arquillano were granted temporary liberty after posting a bail of P750,000 on Thursday, May 2.

Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes, legal counsel of the Arquillano brothers, confirmed the development in a text message sent to CDN Digital.

“They (Aly and Al Arquillano) are free. Granted ang bail (The bail is granted.),” Paredes said.
The top town officials of San Francisco stayed in jail for almost a month after they were arrested during a raid conducted by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) on April 4, 2019 at their residence.

The authorities reportedly recovered several firearms and a hand grenade during the operation.

Read more: San Francisco mayor, vice mayor in trouble for possession of firearms, explosives

Read more: Arquillano brothers detained in Danao City Jail

Paredes said they were waiting for the resolution of the court on their motion to quash the search warrant used by the operatives in the raid against the Arquillanos.

The Arquillanos’ camp earlier argued that the search warrant which was issued by a court in Barili town, south of Cebu, was invalid since the issuing court lacked jurisdiction over San Francisco town.

Read more: Retired Judge Paredes to ask court to quash search warrant vs Arquillano brothers

Vice Mayor Arquillano is vying for the mayoral race in the town this May 2019 midterm polls while the incumbent mayor is running for vice mayor.

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