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FORMER Compostela mayor Gilbert Wagas is detained at the New Bilibid prison in Muntinglupa City.
Arnel Pura, National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) special investigator, said he was told by Sandiganbayan chief sheriff Edgardo Urieta that they brought Wagas to Muntinlupa at 3 p.m.
He debunked the claim by Wagas's brother Compostela Mayor Ritchie Wagas that a hearing was set on his case yesterday.
The mayor said he filed a motion to lift the arrest warrant and recall the commitment order before the Sandiganbayan.
The Sandiganbayan will hear the motion on Nov. 10, the mayor added.
“We are worried about his (Gilbert) imprisonment but we expected this as people dealing with politics. This is temporary,” Ritchie said.
He said they have a pending motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court (SC) on the Sandiganbayan decision.
Wagas along with a municipal treasurer were sentenced to life imprisonment for failing to account more than P300,000 from the municipal treasury.
Mayor Wagas said his brother was brought to Muntinglupa in keeping with procedure pending the resolution on their motion.
But Pura said the Sandiganbayan decision which sentenced the former mayor to reclusion perpetua was final and executory.
He said all legal remedies were already explored by the Wagas.
Pura said the guards at the Sandiganbayan holding area confiscated the former mayor's cell phone because this is not allowed.
The former mayor is planning to run for congressman in the 5th district against incumbent Rep. Red Durano.
Mayor Wagas accused Durano of being behind his brother's arrest.
He said they learned that the congressman wrote a letter to the Supreme Court, asking copies of the case against Gilbert.
He said he is not surprised that Councilor Wilfredo Calo requested the NBI to serve the bench warrant because Calo is an ally of the Duranos.
