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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 1 Nov) – A former mayor of the municipality of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur with pending charges issued by the Sandiganbayan 12 years ago was arrested around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Davao City, said in a report that authorities served the warrant of arrest issued in 2006 by the anti-graft court against Rufo C. Pabelonia, mayor from 1986 to 1995, for his non-appearance in his arraignment on June 8, 2006.
The 65-year-old suspect, now a farmer, was arrested in his residence at Kilometer 7.5 Purok 4, Matina Pangi, Davao City.
Driz said Pabelonia was immediately turned over to Talomo Police Station and will be brought to Sandiganbayan for his trial on a case involving Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
But she admitted having no idea what the graft case was all about.
“We will implement our mandate to hunt down persons with warrants of arrest and bring them to the folds of the law without fear or favor,” Driz said.
She said the CIDG served the warrant peacefully and orderly following provisions of police operational procedures. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)