Court clears, orders release of Batangas town mayor
BATANGAS, Philippines — Citing lack of probable cause and jurisdiction over the case, a court in this province has ordered the release of the mayor of Mabini town, who was charged with illegal possesion of firearms and explosives.
In a 10-page decision, Batangas City Regional Trial Court Branch 84 Judge Dorcas Ferriols-Perez dismissed the case against Mayor Nilo Villanueva, adding that he should be released by Aug. 24.
Villanueva and his two brothers were among four people arrested in simultaneous raids on their houses on June 17.
Villanueva filed a motion to dismiss the case, saying the search warrant was null and void because it was issued by a court in Antipolo City, which has no jurisdiction over the case.
The raiding team has no personal knowledge and fabricated their statements against him, he added.
Villanueva’s camp said the rules on the use of body-worn cameras in the execution of warrants have also been violated.
“The right against unreasonable searches and seizures is one of the fundamental constitutional rights,” the court said.
“The hand grenade seized during the implementation of the search warrant is suppressed and excluded for being inadmissible evidence,” it added.
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