BAUAN, Batangas Mayor Ryanh Dolor was arrested yesterday and detained at the House of Representatives for repeatedly snubbing the hearings of the House Committee on Public Accounts on the privatization of the Bauan Waterworks System (BWS).
House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas said the mayor, who was earlier cited in contempt for his repeated absence despite multiple summonses and notices, was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 shortly after arriving from the United States.
He said Dolor, 45, arrived via a PAL flight PR 113 from Los Angeles, California near midnight and the arrest was carried out between 12:08 a.m. and 12:20 a.m. yesterday by a joint team led by the Office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms, with coordination from the House of Representatives’ Liaison Officer, the Airport Police, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Office and the Bureau of Immigration.
The panel’s arrest, signed by its chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (PL, Abang Lingkod) and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, cited Section 11, Paragraph A of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation on refusal to obey summons without legal excuse.
The investigation was the offshoot of House Resolution No. 2148 authored by La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, who sought an inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds and irregularities in the Bauan local government’s dealings with Aquadata Inc.
The resolution cited a Commission on Audit report that the contract between the municipality and Aquadata allegedly lacked legal and financial basis, especially since the company failed to meet prequalification criteria.
However, despite this, Bauan entered into a holdover agreement with the firm, allegedly prolonging losses even after the contract’s termination.
Dolor’s office submitted a travel authority signed by Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, allowing him to travel to the US from March 11 to 26, for medical reasons but lawmakers questioned the lack of medical records or specific justification in the excuse letter.
“Wala man lang (There was no) medical records or anything like that to justify his absence,” said Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, adding that the mayor’s extended travel authority suspiciously coincided with the dates of the panel’s hearings. “Medyo halata po na iniiwasan po tayo ni Mayor Dolor (It’s obvious that Mayor Dolor is avoiding us).”
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop pointed out that Dolor was abroad with Aquadata President Joseph Yu and Vice President Jonathan Yu, who were likewise cited in contempt and ordered detained by the House panel.
