Mayor Jocelyn P. Castañeda campaigning for reelection. Photo by Ernie Esconde
MARIVELES, Bataan — Mayor Jocelyn P. Castañeda of Mariveles said Saturday that she has posted bail at a Baguio City court that issued an order for her release from a warrant of arrest slapped against her Wednesday by a Bataan Trial Court.
The reelectionist mayor, a lawyer, said she was in a courtesy visit with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong when she was informed of the warrant against her for a case of obstruction of justice.
The case was filed by the Bataan Police Provincial Office against Castañeda and her two municipal government employees, George Imperial and Aubreynel dela Cruz, for allegedly taking back the dashcam and cellphone recovered by the police in the site of the murder of Jonathan dela Cruz.
Jonathan, head of the Mariveles management information service, was shot and killed by still unidentified gunmen on Dec. 17, 2020 near his residence in Mt. View, Mariveles.
Aubreynel is Jonathan’s brother while Imperial is a member of the mayor’s staff. Jonathan was reportedly very close and a trusted man of the mayor.
“Si Jonathan ay kanang kamay ko, talagang pinagkakatiwalaan ko at lahat talaga ng trabaho sa munisipyo halos siya talaga pinapa-handle ko ng aming pagmomonitor sa mga quarantine facility, contact tracing at siya din kasi sa MIS namin at napakagaling niya sa information technology,” the mayor said.
Castañeda said Imperial and Aubreynel were interested to get back the dashcam and cellphone to preserve as evidences whatever are contained in the two gadgets while the concern of the victim’s wife is the Gcash transaction.
She said the dashcam and cellphone are with the National Bureau of Investigation that they requested to investigate the murder case.
“Ang pinakamasakit nito ay kami na nga ang namatayan, kapatid na ang namatayan, kaibigan, kami pa ang kinasuhan,” Castañeda said.
