MANILA, Philippines – Bingbong Crisologo, the incumbent Quezon City 1st District representative and mayoral candidate who was arrested for alleged obstruction of justice, will fight back.

“We will charge them. Illegal arrest eh (It’s an illegal arrest),” Crisologo said while in detention at Camp Karingal, an hour past midnight on Monday, May 13 – election day.

He was handcuffed on Sunday evening, May 12, after supposedly preventing cops from arresting his supporters at a house in Barangay Bahay Toro where vote buying was allegedly taking place.

Police accused him of locking up intelligence operatives inside the house where his supporters stayed.

According to Crisologo, however, all of them were arrested without being read their Miranda rights and without being told what cases they were about to face. If true, this would mean cops violated their rights and this may lead to criminal and administrative cases.

In a press briefing 4 hours after Crisologo’s arrest, Quezon City cops announced they will sue the mayoral bet for obstruction of justice, unjust vexation, and resisting arrest resulting in physical injury.

At least 40 of his supporters, meanwhile, are set to face vote buying charges. Cops only recovered P800 from the site, however, saying that they had no search warrant and were “overwhelmed” by the number of people at the house.

According to Crisologo, the arrest was politically motivated. He alleged that it is his rival, incumbent Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, who is engaged in vote buying, and cops supposedly turned a blind eye to this.

As of posting, Crisologo remains detained at the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Camp Karingal. He said he will avail of all possible options so he could vote on election day. – Rappler.com

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