Jailbird Wagas seeks 5th district congress seat

Being behind bars didn’t stop former Compostela mayor Gilbert Wagas from seeking a congressional seat in Cebu’s 5th district for the second time.

Wagas, who is serving a prison term for graft and corruption in Muntinglupa, sent a proxy yesterday to file his certificate of candidacy (COC).

Ma. Rosella Avellaneda showed up at 8:30 a.m. in the provincial election office with a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) as his authorized representative to file Wagas’ COC and a handwritten letter of Wagas who said he wanted to run to “free the 5th district of Cebu from the dynastic control of one family – Nito Durano & sons monopoly”.

In a later interview, Avallaneda said Wagas himself filled up the form when he attended a court hearing in Cebu City last September 21 to 24.

Avellaneda said she belonged to the group “Friends of Gilbert Wagas” which is supporting his candidacy.

Wagas is supposed to run under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada. But Avellaneda said the certificate of nomination would arrive at 12 noon yet and she couldn’t wait for it since she had to travel to Sibonga in south Cebu.

Wagas was listed by the election office as an independent candidate.

Wagas was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for malversation of public funds for failing to account for over P300,000 from the municipal treasury. He was sent to the National State Penitentiary in Muntinlupa in 2009 for 13 to 19 years.

He’s up against Ace Durano (Barug-Liberal Party) for the 5th district congressional seat.

One Cebu party is fielding Alfie Pepito of Liloan town. He was described as an entertainer./with Jhunnex Napallacan