MANILA — A Philippine court has ordered the release of Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan of San Simon, Pampanga, who was detained last month after being implicated in an alleged extortion scheme targeting a local businessman.
In a ruling dated Sept. 2, Judge Desiree Gertrude Orquila-Mordez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 206 in Muntinlupa City granted a petition for habeas corpus filed on behalf of the mayor. The order directed the National Bureau of Investigation to free Mr. Punsalan and six others, including Ed Ryan “Doc Yang” Dimla, a businessman, and members of the mayor’s security detail.
Mayor Punsalan had been arrested in August in an N.B.I. sting operation, following accusations that his group sought payments in exchange for business permits and protection. Law enforcement officials said marked money was recovered during the operation.
The mayor has denied wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated in the lead-up to next year’s elections.
The court’s decision raised questions about the handling of the case and whether authorities had sufficient grounds to detain an elected official without formal charges. The N.B.I. has not said whether it will pursue further action.