Belmonte slay try: Arrest warrant served on suspended Iligan mayor

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippine – Police failed to arrest suspended Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia when they served a warrant issued against him by a local court in Misamis Oriental on Tuesday.

Regencia, one of the 14 accused in the ambush on Rep. Vicente Belmonte last year, was not around when the police served the warrant.

His wife received the warrant on his behalf.

The mayor is facing three counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder for the killing of Belmonte’s two security escorts and driver, and the wounding of the congressman and three others.

No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Belmonte’s convoy was headed for Iligan City from Manila when armed men ambushed them shortly after they arrived at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

Regencia’s supporters slammed the filing of the murder charges against him, claiming there was no evidence linking the mayor to the ambush.

The Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Initao found probable cause against Regencia, who is still serving a six-month suspension over an administrative case filed by the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Iligan.