Mayor-suspect nixes transfer of trial to Manila courts

BALER, Aurora — "What powerful and influential? If I were powerful and influential, I would not be here locked up in jail."

Thus said detained Dingalan Mayor Jaime Ylarde in reaction to the appeal of the family of slain publisher Philip Agustin for the Supreme Court to transfer his trial to a Manila court.

Reached by The STAR through his cellular phone, Ylarde, who is detained here, said the claim of Agustin’s family that he was "powerful and influential" has no legal basis.

He said his camp is prepared to submit his opposition to the move to transfer the venue of the case.

Ylarde, who appeared to be in high spirits, said like a law-abiding citizen, he is leaving it all up to the Supreme Court to decide on the matter.

"You know, I abide by the law. When there was a warrant for my arrest, I voluntarily surrendered," he said.

He said he is hopeful that the court would also give due course to his petition to post bail.

"I have faith in the judicial system of this country," he said.

Ylarde’s petition for bail will be heard in the sala of Judge Armando Yanga of Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 66 on June 27.

With Ylarde under detention, acting Mayor Edgardo Galvez has taken over the rein of the municipal government.

Earlier, Agustin’s daughter Rosebelle Cruz, through her lawyer, Michael Mella, urged the Supreme Court to transfer the murder trial to Manila, claiming that her family would not get justice because of Ylarde’s "power and influence."

Agustin, Starline Times Recorder publisher, was shot dead by two men inside Rosebelle’s house in Barangay Paltic, Dingalan town on May 10, 2004.

His killing came shortly after he had exposed alleged irregularities in the municipal government.

Besides Ylarde who was tagged as the mastermind, the National Bureau of Investigation has also charged Reynaldo Morete, Nilo Morete and Emmanuel Alday. Reynaldo has turned state witness, while the latter two are still at large. — Manny Galvez