Cabugao, Ilocos Sur mayor ordered arrested for serious illegal detention

A regional trial court (RTC) judge has ordered the arrest of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur Mayor Josh Edward Cobangbang in connection with his alleged involvement in the forcible closure of a beach resort that trapped nine people for two days.

Acting Presiding Judge Raphiel Alzate of the Cabugao RTC Branch 24 ordered Cobangbang and 19 others arrested for serious illegal detention and grave coercion, according to two warrants dated Monday seen Wednesday.

Serious illegal detention is a non-bailable offense, but the judge recommended a bail of P36,000 for each of the accused in the grave coercion case.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently indicted Cobangbang and other local government officials and employees for their alleged hand in padlocking the Cabugao Beach Resort when its operator, her 4-year-old son, and seven staff members refused to leave it in August 2017.

The municipality had allegedly opened the property to another lessee and demanded operator Virginia Nicole Savellano-Ong to vacate the premises without presenting the required court order.

Local government staff allegedly locked the rooms with wooden planks and the gate with metal chains and padlocks. Ong, her son and the resort employees were released two days later, when her lawyer arrived with police, according to the DOJ. — BM, GMA News