Quezon board member served arrest warrant in hospital

Lucena CITY, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents served an arrest warrant against a senior board member of Quezon province here on Tuesday afternoon for an estafa case.

Lawyer Eboy Ramos, NBI Lucena City chief, said board member Victor Abustan Reyes, 51, was served the arrest warrant issued by Judge Wilfredo Fiel Navarro of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 19 at the Lucena Doctors’ Hospital where he had been confined for two weeks for a foot ailment.

When he learned about the warrant, Reyes reportedly suffered a minor heart attack and was rushed to the intensive care unit.

A P40,000 bail was recommended for Reyes’ temporary liberty.

The case against Reyes arose from a supposed P27-million failed transaction over the purchase of a vessel. The Reyes clan is involved in shipping and the board member owns Star Horse Shipping Lines whose vessels ply the Marinduque, Romblon, Boracay and Masbate routes. 

Reyes chairs the transportation committee of the Quezon provincial board. – Arnell Ozaeta, Michelle Zoleta