Ex-mayor convicted of malversation arrested Jhunnex Napallacan Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 05, 2009
CEBU CITY, Philippines A former mayor from the northern town of Cebu, who was convicted for malversation by the Sandiganbayan eight years ago, was arrested late Wednesday afternoon inside a shopping mall here.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Gilbert Wagas, former mayor of Compostela town, based on a warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan six years ago.
The Sandiganbayan convicted Wagas for the malversation of P376,618.65 in municipal funds on October 8, 2001. On July 2, 2003, then Justice Gregory Ong of the Sandiganbayan 4th division issued a bench warrant against him.
Wagas, who is also the brother of the incumbent mayor of Compostela town, claimed late Wednesday that his arrest was politically motivated because he was planning to run for the congressional seat of Cebu's fifth district.
But special investigator Arnel Pura of the National Bureau of Investigation in Region 7, denied on Thursday, that the arrest was politically motivated, saying that they were only serving a valid bench warrant.’
Pura confirmed, however, that the NBI 7 had received a letter-request for the arrest of Wagas from Compostela Councilor Wilfredo Calo, who once served as the police chief of the town. The councilor also provided them a copy of the bench warrant against Wagas, he said.
The councilor's letter request was approved by NBI regional director and deputy director for regional operations service, Pura added.
Aside from Wagas, Compostela municipal treasurer’s in 2001, Dominador Maravillas Jr., who claimed that Wagas advanced the amount, was also convicted of the malversation charge.
The Sandiganbayan 4th division convicted the two for failing to prove that the cash advances were covered by a municipal ordinance.
The Sandiganbayan imposed a jail sentence of reclusion perpetua on Wagas and Maravillas, who were also ordered to refund the amount.
The two were also permanently disqualified from holding public office.
Wagas brought the case to the Supreme Court but the high court upheld the Sandiganbayan ruling, Pura said.
He said the bench warrant was first assigned to NBI agent Renato Mandawe, who had been transferred to Zamboanga. Mandawe then reported to the Sandiganbayan that Wagas could not be located at his given address.
Pura said Wagas was brought to Manila Thursday noon so he could be presented to the Sandiganbayan 4th division on the same day.
He added they were also verifying reports that Maravillas had died.
Wagas became the OIC mayor of Compostela during the presidency of Corazon Aquino after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt. He served for one term as mayor when he was elected in 1988.
