MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested for the second time businessman Davidson Bangayan, also known as alleged rice smuggling king David Tan, after he appeared before the Senate for the rice smuggling probe.
NBI agents took Bangayan into custody when he stepped outside the Senate building after the hearing.
Bangayan was arrested in connection with a pilferage offense filed before the Caloocan City Trial Court in 2009. Bail for the violations of the anti-pilferage law is set at P40,000.
Bangayan was cited for contempt by Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food for "lying" about being the same person as Tan during the hearing.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima then said before the Senate panel that Bangayan would be apprehended for pilfering electricity, an arrest warrant for which was issued against David Tan.
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De Lima said that Bangayan had to be carrying Tan's identity a few years back. DOJ, moreover, has a witness from the Manila Electric Co. alleging that Tan and Bangayan are the same person.
Senator Cynthia Villar, meanwhile, asked De Lima to place Bangayan on the DOJ watch list and suggested that the Department of Foreign Affairs be asked to cancel his passport.
Bangayan was arrested last month for the same case, only to be released for lack of evidence that he is also Tan.
The Chinese-Filipino businessman vehemently denied being involved in large-scale smuggling operations that cost the government billions in revenue.
Bail
Authorities released Bangayan after he posted the recommended bail of P40,000 before the Caloocan court a few hours after the arrest.
Bangayan's lawyer said in a radio report that his client has no plans to leave the country and will face accusations against him.
De Lima earlier issued a lookout bulletin order with the Bureau of Immigration to keep an eye on the businessman.