TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio was arrested yesterday in connection with the shooting of a convoy of Presidential Legislative Liason officer Manuel Mamba in May 2013.
Antonio was attending a Christmas party in the capitol building when police officers arived to arrest him.
He appealed to Cagayanos to spare a peso for his bail, which was set at P10,000, as a show of protest against the charges.
Cris Barcena, spokesman for Antonio, clarified that the multiple murder charges against the governor have been downgraded to illegal discharge of firearms.
Antonio reportedly shot at Mamba’s convoy as it was passing in front of his house in Alcala town during the 2013 elections.
Mamba, a former Cagayan lawmaker, said he would appeal the downgrading of Antonio’s case.
“It should be multiple murder, not just illegal discharge of firearm as it was done on election day,” he said.
Barcena said Antonio refused to post the bail as a show of protest.
The “Piso-Piso para kay Antonio” drive is not the first in the Cagayan Valley.
In 1993, former radio broadcaster Grace Padaca called for a similar fund-raising campaign for her P10,000 bail after she was arrested for libel while in the announcer’s booth.