Bauan mayor arrested at NAIA for ignoring summons

Authorities nabbed Bauan, Batangas Mayor Ryanh Dolor at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon his return from the United States early Thursday, enforcing a contempt order from the House of Representatives.

His arrest followed his repeated no-shows in the hearing of the House Committee on Public Accounts despite being summoned four times through a show-cause order and a subpoena.

A joint operation led by the Office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms, in coordination with airport police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Office, and the Bureau of Immigration, resulted in the arrest of Dolor at exactly 12:20 a.m. on Thursday, shortly after arriving from Los Angeles, California.

The mayor was cited in contempt during the last hearing on 17 March, along with Joseph Yu and Jonathan Yu, president, and vice president, respectively, of Aquadata Inc.

The congressional panel said Dolor's repeated refusal to attend the investigation without legal excuse violated the House rules.

The congressional probe stems from the alleged irregularities in the use of public funds of the Bauan local government and its dealings with Aquadata.

Based on the findings of the Commission on Audit, the contract between the municipality and Aquadata allegedly lacked legal and financial basis, and the company failed to meet pre-qualification criteria.

But despite the deficiencies, Bauan purportedly entered into a holdover agreement with the said firm, supposedly prolonging losses even after the contract’s termination.

Citing medical reasons, Dolor reportedly departed the country after obtaining travel authority from Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.

He was out of the country from 11 to 26 March.

House lawmakers, however, expressed doubt about the lack of his medical records and the suspicious date of his travel, which coincided with the panel’s scheduled hearings.

Dolor is now in the custody of the House and will be detained there until the committee terminates the investigation.