NBI arrests alleged rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday arrested businessman and alleged rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan shortly after he personally surrendered to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier in the day.

GMA News correspondent John Consulta said in a “Balitanghali” report that NBI operatives served an arrest warrant to Bangayan at the end of his visit to De Lima.

He was brought to the NBI headquarters where he will be asked to give his formal statement regarding charges that he was the David Tan allegedly involved in rice smuggling.

Consulta said Bangayan’s lawyer looked furious and disappointed that his client was arrested after he personally showed up at De Lima’s office to refute the charges against him.

Bangayan surrendered a day after De Lima bared to the media that NBI investigators were able to establish him as the David Tan being linked to rice smuggling activities in the country.

De Lima said the NBI's basis for arresting Bangayan was an outstanding arrest order issued in 2010 by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court for the violation of RA 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage. – Xianne Arcangel/KBK, GMA News