Iligan Mayor Celso Regencia smiles as he walks along a flower shop. Photo courtesy of Steward Pacot Dumalagan

ILIGAN CITY – It was work right away for Mayor Celso Regencia after his release from detention Monday morning.

Regencia, who was incarcerated for over a year, surprised his allies and supporters when he suddenly showed up at the city hall’s flag-raising ceremony, and went around the public market to check on vendors and supporters as well.

Regencia also attended mass with his wife, Marissa, and some councilors.

In his speech, Regencia recounted the times he felt doubtful about getting acquitted and upset when taunted that he will rot in jail.

“It is not easy to be punished for a crime I did not commit,” he said.

In 2015, Regencia was linked to the ambush of former
Congressman Vicente Belmonte Jnr’s convoy in Laguindingan Airport, Misamis Oriental, where three of the congressman’s escorts died.

Regencia's lawyer Leo Zaragosa said the Quezon City Court dismissed the multiple murder and frustrated murder cases against Regencia after suspect-turned-witness Dominador Tumala admitted executing two different affidavits in the case/

"Tumala did not link Regencia in his first affidavit but after the police men made up evidences against Tumala, Tumala executed another affidavit. This time, he implicated the mayor,” Zaragosa said.

Zaragosa said Regencia is keen on multi-million damage suits against Misamis Oriental police chief Senior Superintendent Leonilo Cabug and CIDG-X Director Alex Tagum who allegedly masterminded the fabrication of the evidences.

Weeks prior to the dismissal of the case, the Department of Justice also reversed its first ruling that found probable cause in the charges against Regencia.

• READ: DOJ reverses ruling on ambush case vs Iligan mayor

Zaragosa said that when everything settles down, Regencia would be going to Davao to see President Rodrigo Duterte.