Former Baguio mayoral candidate posts P1M bail

BAGUIO CITY — To avoid going to jail, a former mayoral candidate in Baguio City posted bail amounting to ₱1,320,000.00 for his temporary liberty after being arrested on 16 February 2026.

The 42-year-old accused, who is also known as a local businessman, previously ran for the city’s top executive position during the May 2025 local elections but was unsuccessful in his bid.

According to police reports, the individual was ordered arrested on January 27, 2026, to face 11 counts of Falsification of Private Documents by a Private Individual. The warrant was issued by the Presiding Judge of the Family Court, Third Judicial Region, in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Records from the Baguio Justice Hall indicate that the accused paid the required bail on the same day as his arrest.

He was also involved in a prior incident shortly after the 2025 elections. In May of that year, the former candidate was arrested by the Baguio City Police Office on the strength of a warrant for estafa.

The earlier case was reportedly linked to private business transactions and gained significant public attention, as it occurred immediately after the polling period.

The recent bail payment of ₱1,320,000.00, calculated at ₱120,000.00 per count, allows for the individual’s temporary release while the 11 counts of falsification proceed in court. Legal proceedings related to these charges remain ongoing, alongside his previous legal entanglements from the prior year.