Bauan Mayor Dolor detained over absence in House inquiry

Bauan, Batangas Mayor Ryanh Dolor has been detained in the House of Representatives upon his arrival in the Philippines from the US Thursday morning due to a standing contempt order issued by chamber, House Sergeant-at-Arms and retired police Major General Napoleon Taas said.

Tass said Dolor was taken into custody upon arrival at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City at 12:08 a.m. due to a contempt order issued by the House Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano.

The order stemmed from Dolor’s alleged refusal to attend legislative inquiry on privatization of the Bauan Waterworks System without a legal excuse as provided under Section 11, Paragraph A of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.

“Dolor, 45, arrived via Philippine Airlines flight PR 113 from Los Angeles, California, which landed at 11:34 p.m. on March 26. The arrest was carried out between 12:08 a.m. and 12:20 a.m. by a joint team led by the Office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms, with coordination from the House of Representatives Liaison Officer, Airport Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Office (CIDG), and the Bureau of Immigration,” Taas said.

“Dolor was read the order, informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood, and underwent the required medical checkup before being brought to the House of Representatives detention facility where he is now confined,” Taas added.

Prior to issuing the contempt order, Paduano’s panel said it had issued three invitations, one show cause order and a subpoena.

Dolor’s office, for its part, submitted a travel authority signed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, allowing him to travel to the US from March 11 to 26, for medical reasons.

Aside from Dolor, also included in the contempt and detention order were Joseph Yu and Jonathan Yu, Aquadata Inc. president and vice president, respectively.

The House investigation stemmed from House Resolution 2148 authored by House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union.

Dolor will remain under House detention until the termination of the committee’s hearings. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News