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Former Compostela mayor Gilbert Wagas was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) at a coffee shop inside the SM mall at 5 p.m yesterday, eight years after the Sandiganbayan convicted him of malversation charges.
The former mayor caused a stir among afternoon shoppers and mall visitors after he reportedly resisted arrest by seven NBI-7 agents.
NBI agents Greg Tomagan Jr., said Wagas was initially calm and asked to call his lawyer and brother Compostela Mayor Ritchie Wagas.
The agents waited for 20 minutes while Wagas made several calls.
Afterwards the agents told him they had to bring him into custody and advised him to wait for his brother inside the NBI-7 office.
It was then that Wagas supposedly screamed ?Illegal arrest...shoot me! Shoot me!,? to the surprise of those inside the coffee shop and the onlookers who gathered outside.
Tomagan said the agents left their firearms inside their service vehicle due to mall security rules.
When Wagas reportedly tried to punch one of the agents, the others grabbed and then pinned him down before putting handcuffs on him.
Security guards were on hand to keep the crowd at bay.
NBI-7 Senior Agent Arnel Pura said Wagas will be brought to the Sandiganbayan to return the arrest warrant against the former mayor who is detained at the NBI-7 office as of presstime.
Wagas claimed that the warrant was ?recycled? and they still have a pending motion for reconsideration before the High Tribunal.
He also showed a bruise on his head which he sustained after admitting to resisting arrest.
Wagas, who was visited by his brother at the NBI office, said he plans to file charges against the agents.
The warrant was issued by former $andiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong of the fourth division against Wagas.
Wagas and former Compostela town Dominador Maravillas Jr, were convicted of misappropriating P376, 618. 65 in public funds.
Maravillas claimed that the money was advanced by Wagas and that it never came into his possession.
The former treasurer then filed a civil case against Wagas before the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City in a reported attempt to escape culpability.
The Sandiganbayan said Wagas failed to show evidence to substantiate his claim that the cash advances he made was covered by a Municipal Council Profession Ordinance. It meted life imprisonment for the two men.
They were also ordered to refund the amount and were permanently disqualified from holding public office.
The two men contested the Sandiganbayan decision before the Supreme Court, which denied their motion for reconsideration since they failed to file their petition within the reglementary period.
