RTC Judge Balo hears case vs. South Cotabato town exec

SURALLAH, South Cotabato - A trial court judge in South Cotabato has given the prosecution five days to present witnesses in its case against detained Mayor Albert Palencia of Banga, South Cotabato.Judge Lorenzo Balo of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 26 granted the prosecution's request to give it five days to present five witnesses in its case against Palencia who was arrested following a raid on his home last Nov. 3. Palencia's lawyers were confident they will hurdle the case against the town mayor who was allegedly in President Duterte's second batch of narco-politicians.Palencia repeatedly denied he was into drugs and the raid on his home where 18 search warrants were implemented proved his accusers wrong for they found no drugs.The mayor's counsel, that included Lawyers Ernesto Cathedral, Remegio Roxas and Mario Madero,also asked the court to let the town mayor stay at Banga town police lock-up cell for his security. He has been in police custody since Nov. 4. The prosecution did not oppose such manifestation.Anti-narcotics police found four bullets for cal. 380 and a rifle grenade from Palencia's home and piggery, respectively.Palencia maintained he did not own the bullets and grenade.