FORMER Compostela Mayor Gilbert Wagas has been turned over by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Cebu to the custody of the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.

Accompanied by NBI Special Investigators Arnel Pura, Gregorio Tumagan Jr., and Florante Gawiran, Wagas left Cebu in handcuffs at 11 a.m. and then went straight to Sandiganbayan. He arrived around 2:30 p.m.

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"The handcuff is procedural for the sheriff. We will have to wait for the order of commitment before bringing him to the Bureau of Correction. The mayor will stay here," said Edgardo Urieta, chief of Security and Sheriffs.

Wagas was arrested Wednesday in Cebu City by virtue of a bench warrant on July 2, 2003. He was convicted October 8, 2001 for malversation of P376,618.65 in public funds.

The order for Wagas's sentence will be given to the sheriffs on Friday morning to be followed by his transfer to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

The turnover Thursday was described as peaceful, a far cry from the commotion that happened when the mayor was arrested in a coffee shop inside a mall, which became physical.

Although visibly sporting a wound on the forehead, Wagas said he will not be pressing charges, saying they "were all men" anyway.

"I can not blame the NBI. They're just performing their job," he said.

According to Pura, the former Compostela mayor was very cooperative during the entire travel.

"He (Wagas) has no other choice but to cooperate," he said.

Wagas meanwhile said he will continue fighting despite what happened amidst all the pending cases that are still to be resolved in the Supreme Court (SC).

A motion for reconsideration will be filed by his legal counsel to lift the bench warrant.

Earlier, Wagas resisted the bench warrant that was used to arrest him.

A bench warrant is only valid for 10 days, according to Wagas, making the particular warrant already expired.

"In our eyes, this is not valid anymore," he said.

Wagas added that there is already an omnibus motion, comprised of many motions in one filing, which has not been resolved in the SC for six years.

There is also another personal motion for reconsideration that is still pending.

"As far as the Sandiganbayan and the NBI are concerned, they said the case is with finality. But why did they use a bench warrant? Why not a warrant of arrest itself?" Wagas asked.

Wagas said he is "very confident without doubt" that the outcome of this fight will be positive, adding that the case should be resolved "not on technicalities but on substance."

He reiterated that his arrest is politically motivated, citing the fact that he is running against the Duranos, which Wagas said have been running their district for 66 years.

Wagas is eyeing the congressional seat this coming May 2010 elections.

"The problem is those who have power. They can use the Commission of Audit, the Ombudsman," he said.

"We have to continue. The issue is not Gilbert Wagas. We have to stand up so that the people will know that we are under a democracy," he added.

Wagas also said he is just one of the casualties among many other people who have been committed crimes against but did not receive justice. (Angela Casauy/Sunnex)