A LEGISLATOR who is running for mayor Quezon City was arrested after he figured in a scuffle with the police over alleged vote-buying activities Sunday, May 12, the eve of the midterm National and Local Elections.
The Quezon City Police Office (QCPD) is set to file charges of obstruction of justice, direct assault and unjust vexation against Quezon City First District Representative Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo and his son Edrix, a lawyer.
Crisologo was brought to the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings Monday morning, May 13.
The Crisologos were arrested Sunday evening along with at least 40 people in Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City over alleged vote-buying activities.
QCPD Director Joselito Esquivel said a commotion ensued when the Crisologos tried to stop the arresting officers from apprehending the 40 civilians.
“At that instance, mayoralty candidate Bingbong Crisologo arrived and shouted on top of his voice humiliating the police operatives and questioned their presence thereat. PCMS Maninang, the team leader was pulled by Bingbong Crisologo and the house owner Arturo Delos Reyes inside the compound causing some injuries upon his person. All the police operatives were held inside the padlocked gate and prevented by the group of Congressman Crisologo from going outside,” Brigadier General Esquivel said.
The padlock was removed and the gate opened by reinforcement officers.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde, who visited Crisologo in Camp Karingal along with Esquivel and National Capital Region Police Office Director Guillermo Eleazar on Monday morning, assured that the congressman's allegations of irregularities will be investigated.
Crisologo alleged that the arresting policemen were not in uniform and that they did not have any search warrant.
“Well una titingnan naman natin ‘yung punto n’ya. I am sure sabi ko nga kanina there must be a compelling reason kung bakit sya inaresto ng kapulisan knowing na very famous sya na isang congressman dito sa Quezon City and of course kasama n’ya ‘yung anak nya na abugado so there must be something wrong sa nangyari doon sa insidente kung bakit talagang inaresto sya ng ating kapulisan. Kung meron naman sya nakitang irregularities or pang aabuso ng ating mga kapulisan we will gladly entertain his complaint,” he said.
(We'll look into his allegations. I am sure, as I have said before, that there must be a compelling reason why he and his son were arrested. We will gladly entertain his complaint about irregularities or abuses that our men allegedly committed.)
Esquivel, for his part, confronted Crisologo for cursing the police officers.
In an interview, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said Crisologo's arrest does not automatically disqualify him from the mayoralty race. An investigation will have be conducted first.
"It will not affect his candidacy in the short term," said Jimenez.
He said they did not see anything irregular about Crisologo's arrest.
"His arrest is part of the operation against the vote buying that was witnessed there," said Jimenez. (With HDT/SunStar Philippines)