Justice Secretary Leila de Lima INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested the wrong person, lawyer for Davidson Bangayan, the suspected rice smuggler known as David Tan told reporters Tuesday.
“The warrant is against David Tan. My client is Davidson Bangayan,” lawyer Benito Salazar said in a text message to reporters.
The warrant for the arrest was issued against a certain David Tan by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 126 for violation of Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines or the Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.
The NBI was able to procure a copy of Tan’s arrest warrant last Jan. 7.
Bangayan, on Tuesday first met with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to clarify that he is not David Tan.
De Lima said he expressed willingness to cooperate in the probe and she referred him to the NBI.
However, the NBI arrested him due to the pending warrant issued by the Caloocan court.
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