Ex-Mayor Wagas is in hospital, not Muntinlupa

IS  former Compostela mayor Gilbert Wagas sick?

If he is, what’s he doing in a private hospital in Cebu City instead of Muntinlupa where he was supposed to be serving a Sandiganbayan sentence for malversation of   public funds?

The secrecy surrounding Wagas’ confinement stirred  questions when Cebu Daily News found  the ex-mayor in Room  256 of the Visayas Community Medical Center yesterday. The staff earlier denied he was there.

Wagas was the one who opened the door slightly when this reporter knocked on it past 5 p.m.  Then  Wagas  shut it again slowly. He had  a surprised look on his face after recognizing the visitor.

There was no guard outside the door or  patient’s name labeled on it.

Pastor Mequias Camba, the hospital administrator, in an interview after the encounter, said he had no idea Wagas was in the hospital.  He declined to   elaborate, citing  “confidentiality rights.”

A hospital staffer who asked  not to be identified said  it wasn’t the first time Wagas was staying in the hospital.

Posted outside the white wooden door was the name of a physician, nothing more. Before yesterday’s visit, Cebu Daily News checked with hospital staff whether Wagas was confined after media outlets were tipped off about  a  VIP visitor in room 256 who was supposed to be in prison.

The staff said the patient confined in that room wasn’t Wagas.

In a phone interview, Wagas’ lawyer George Bragat last night said Wagas was supposed to attend a hearing in Mandaue City last July  18  before Judge Teresita Galanida but it was reset since the court was  doing an inventory of its cases.

He said he didn’t know about Wagas’ confinement at the VCMC. The lawyer said he had filed a motion for hospital confinement for  Wagas before Judge Galanida because of Wagas’  diabetes condition and another request before Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Gil Acosta where Wagas is facing charges for violation of BP  22 or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law.

Bragat said he didn’t  know whether  his requests were granted by the court.

Bragat said Wagas has been complaining of “high” diabetes. In October 2010, Wagas also sought hospital confinement for his diabetes treatment.

RTC Judge Douglas Marigomen, who handled the libel charges filed by former Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez against Wagas, granted the former mayor’s request at the time for humanitarian reasons.

Details about Wagas’ confinement can only be released to be media with the patient’s consent, CDN was told.

Wagas  was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of malversation of public funds for failing to account for over P300,000 in funds from the municipal treasury.  He was sentenced to 13 to 19 years in prison.

His arrest on Nov. 4, 2009, caused a commotion when agents of the National Bureau of Investigation surprised him at a coffee shop in SM City. Wagas  then shouted, “Illegal arrest… shoot me!  Shoot me!” and tried to punch an agent.  He was pinned down on the floor and handcuffed.

Wagas is also facing a libel suit filed by Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot. /Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol