South Cotabato mayor, jailed on charges of gun possession, out on bail

KORONADAL CITY – A town mayor in South Cotabato whose house was raided by anti-narcotics operatives on Nov. 2 for gun possession and illegal drugs is now out on bail and is back to his office.Mayor Albert Palencia who was jailed at his town's police lock-up cell since Nov. 3 was allowed to post bail of P380,000 for his temporary liberty.Judge Lorenzo Balo of Regional Trial Court Branch 26 fixed the bail bond at P300,000 for charges of illegal possession of explosives and P80,000 for charges of illegal possession of ammunition.Elements of Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (RAIDSOTF) head Supt. Maximo Sebastian raided Palencia's home at 3 a.m. on Nov. 2. The police claimed they found four bullets for cal. 380 at the mayor's house and a rifle grenade at his piggery.firearm Balik opisina na si Banga Mayor Albert Palencia matapos na pinayagan ng korte na makalagak ng pyansa sa kasong illegal possession of ammunition and explosives.Speaking to Radyo Bida Koronadal, Palencia said he beat the deadline Monday to post his bail so he can resume works at Banga mayor's office.The South Cotabato League of Municipalities has passed a resolution declaring Supt. Sebastian and four other police officials as persona non grata for what the local executives believed was improper conduct of anti-drug raid. Claiming they all believed Palencia was innocent of the charges, the town mayors asked why the CCTV camera was destroyed and the main glass door forcibly broken during the operation.The court set Palencia's arraignment January 23, 2017.