Ex-Parañaque mayor ordered arrested

The Parañaque City Regional Trial Court (PCRTC) ordered the arrest of former city mayor Pablo Olivares after he failed to present himself in court yesterday morning.

He had been summoned to attend the arraignment of a vote-buying case filed against him by two Baclaran residents but for the third time, the former mayor failed to do so.

Olivares’ absence prompted PCRTC Branch 274 Judge Fortunito Madrona to issue a bench warrant that authorizes Parañaque City policemen to search for him.

The former mayor, his legal counsel Antonio Ante said, fears for his life which is the primary reason why he allowed his lawyers to represent him in court.

Olivares in facing violation of the Omnibus Election Code charges lodged late last year after he allegedly engaged in electioneering during the May 2004 local polls.

The case was filed by Bienvenido Dino and Renato Compratigo in November 2004, accusing the former mayor of graft and corrupt practices.

A bench warrant, one of his court personnel explained, is different from a full-blown warrant of arrest since a copy of the same in sent only to the city’s police chief.

Copies of regular warrants of arrests, he said, are sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other police units since any police officer can serve it.

The court also gave Olivares and his lawyers five days to explain in writing why he has been defying the court’s order for him to show up.