A MAYOR from Batangas slapped with a contempt and detention order from a House panel for repeated absence in the hearings is now detained at the House of Representatives shortly after arriving from the United States early Thursday.
House Sergeant-at-Arms retired police Major General Napoleon “Nap” C. Taas confirmed the detention of Bauan Mayor Ryanh Dolor, who was taken into custody upon arrival at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City at around 12:08 a.m. on March 27.
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 and the Bureau of Immigration.
The order was served for Dolor’s violation of Section 11, Paragraph A of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, which pertains to refusal without legal excuse to obey summons.
The contempt order was signed on March 17 by House Committee on Public Accounts chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party-list and attested by House Secretary-General Reginald “Reggie” S. Velasco.
Included in the contempt and detention order were Joseph Yu and Jonathan Yu, Aquadata Inc. president and vice president, respectively.
Taas said that 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.
Dolor had earlier been cited in contempt by the House Committee on Public Accounts for repeated absences in hearings probing the privatization of the Bauan Waterworks System (BWS) despite multiple summonses and notices.
The panel said it had issued three invitations, one show cause order and a subpoena before taking action.
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, purportedly for medical reasons.
But lawmakers questioned the lack of medical records or specific justification in the excuse letter.
“Wala man lang medical records or anything like that to justify his absence,” said Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores during a previous hearing.
Flores added that Dolor’s extended travel authority coincided suspiciously with the dates of the panel’s scheduled hearings.
“Medyo halata po na iniiwasan po tayo ni Mayor Dolor,” Flores said.
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop also noted that Dolor was abroad at the same time as Aquadata President Joseph Yu and Vice President Jonathan Yu, who were likewise cited in contempt and ordered detained by the House panel.
The investigation stems from House Resolution (HR) No. 2148 authored by House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union, seeking an inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds and irregularities in the Bauan local government’s dealings with Aquadata Inc.
According to the Commission on Audit (CoA), the contract between the municipality and Aquadata allegedly lacked legal and financial basis, and the company failed to meet prequalification criteria.
Despite this, Bauan entered into a holdover agreement with the firm, allegedly prolonging losses even after the contract’s termination.
Dolor will remain under House detention until the termination of the committee’s hearings, as ordered by the panel.
