By Bohol Island News Staff | 02:45 PM January 16, 2020
Former Alburquerque, Bohol, Mayor Elpren Charles Tungol was released from detention after posting bail amounting P120,000.
Tungol was able to post bail at 4 p.m. on Wednesday but his release was delayed due to “booking” procedure.
The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) said he was released past 11 p.m.on Wednesday.
Tungol, 32, was arrested on Wednesday at around 11:30 a.m. for illegal possesion of firearm.
At 11:30 a.m on Wednesday, personnel of the Provincial Mobile Force Company and Alburquerque Police served two separate search warrants for Elpren and his father Efren, also a former mayor of the said town.
Police found Tungol inside his residence in Barangay East Poblacion in Alburquerque town, with allegedly illegal .45 caliber, a .45 empty magazine and 48 live ammos.
However, no gun was found from Efren’s possession.
According to Police provincial director Col. Jonathan Cabal, the operation stemmed from a report filed by a concerned citizen alleging that a gunshot was heard at the Tungols’ residence last December 2019.
“Kanang armasa na licensed na sauna, expired na taud-taud. wala nana marenew kay dili man ko tigdada ana,” Tungol said during an interview with the Bohol media.
Cabal said Elpren was tagged as the suspect in the killing of Wilfrido Plaza, barangay councilor and trusted aide of incumbent Alburquerque Mayor Don Ritchie Buates. Plaza was killed at the residence of Buates.
Cabal said that circumstantial evidences point to Tungol as the one who allegedly orchestrated the killing of Plaza.
However, Tungol has maintained his innocence in the case.
“Dili na mahimo namo kay unsa man pud makuha namo ana,” Tungol told reporters.