NBI brings Wagas to Sandiganbayan

CEBU, Philippines - Former Compostela Mayor Gilbert Wagas has been brought before the Sandiganbayan in Manila yesterday morning after he was served a warrant of arrest the other day.

NBI Special Investigator Arnel Pura said Wagas will be brought to the Sandiganbayan to return the arrest warrant against the former mayor.

Wagas was arrested and brought to the NBI headquarters by virtue of a bench warrant issued on July 2, 2003 following his conviction last October 2001 of malversation of public funds before the Sandiganbayan.

The former town mayor was charged of misappropriating P376,618.65 in public funds along with former Compostela Municipal Treasurer Dominador Maravillas Jr. Maravillas was also convicted despite claims that the money was advanced by Wagas and that it never came into his possession.

The former treasurer then filed a civil case against Wagas before the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City in a reported attempt to escape culpability.

The Sandiganbayan said Wagas failed to show evidence to substantiate his claim that the cash advances he made were covered by a Municipal Council Profession Ordinance.

It meted life imprisonment for the two men. They were also ordered to refund the amount and were permanently disqualified from holding public office.

In a press conference, Wagas blamed the Durano family, one of the most dominant political forces in the 5th District of the province, for his arrest.

“Congressman Red Durano wrote a letter and asked for a copy in the Supreme Court of the case last September 22, but allegedly the court denied the request, dili ko motago, kung sad an pako, ang tawong sad an magtago tago sa kangitngit. Kini akong sakripisyo gamay ra ni ikumpara sa mga giilugag yuta, gipangpriso, kung kinahanglan,” he said. 

He surmised that the arrest was politically motivated because he intends to run for congress in the 5th District.

“Dili maayong trabaho kay naa mi pending omnibus motion sa Supreme Court, mura ni sya ug putos sa buwad ning warrant. We will contest this. If I will be detained on the basis of this recycled warrant,” Wagas said.

His lawyer, George Bragat, said that the bench warrant used for his arrest only has a validity period of 10 days.

There should be an application for an alias warrant, one legal item to be confronted by the proper authorities. Our motion has not been treated and disposed of until today.

But Pura said that the warrant signed by Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong remained valid and in fact it was certified true and correct by Executive Clerk of Court III Joffre Gil Zapata of the Sandiganbayan’s fourth division last November 4. — Jasmin Uy/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)