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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pandi mayor says arrest 'politically motivated'

Pandi mayor says arrest 'politically motivated'

Published Dec 18, 2024 07:59 am

PANDI, Bulacan—Mayor Enrico Roque said Wednesday, Dec. 18, that the rape complaint filed against him and two others was "politically motivated."

Roque and two others—Pandi Councilor Jonjon Roxas and a certain Raymund Roxas—were arrested here on Tuesday night, Dec. 17, at the resort he owned in the municipality.

They were holding a Christmas party for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens when officers from the Northern Police District (NPD) served them with an arrest warrant issued by a Caloocan court.

Roque told Manila Bulletin he would soon release a statement on his arrest as he was still "fixing some things" at the court in a case that is non-bailable.

"If politically motivated, yes," Roque said in a Viber message as many of his supporters are posting on Facebook groups as they still believe in his innocence and think that the case is only brought up as election season nears.

Political drama in Pandi started to heat up ahead of the local elections in May next year.

Roque recently warned those removing tarpaulins in the municipality that are celebrating the local government's accomplishments. He believed the removal of the posters are politically motivated.

He said he was planning to issue an ordinance that would regulate the posting of tarpaulins in the municipality, and offered a 20,000 reward to anyone who could identify those who are behind the move.

Several Facebook groups dedicated for Pandi residents are now also flooded with political posts, pitting the "greens" or Roque's political color against the "red" or his opponents color.

Roque and the two others' arrest stemmed from a rape allegation that allegedly happened in Caloocan City on April 6, 2019.

Although the incident happened five years ago, NPD said, it only just arrested Roque because "the warrant was released on Nov. 11, 2024."

"It was the court's decision," NPD told Manila Bulletin.

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