Davidson Bangayan out on bail

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 11 years ago

Davidson Bangayan, a.ka. David Tan, is being booked at the NBI Monday. VIDEO BY TETCH TORRES-TUPAS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila Regional Trial Court ordered the release of suspected smuggler Davidson Bangayan, also known as David Tan, after posting bail for his temporary liberty on charges of violation of the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines or the Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

“You are hereby directed to discharge from custody the person of David Tan a.k.a. Davidson Bangayan, he, having filed cash bond in the amount of P40,000,” the Manila RTC Branch 20 through Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali stated in the order of release.

Suspected smuggler Davidson Bangayan, also known as David Tan, is placed under NBI custody and would soon be brought to Caloocan City court to answer pilferage charges. PHOTO BY TETCH TORRES-TUPAS/INQUIRER.net

After he was booked at the National Bureau of Investigation where agents took his mugshot, fingerprints, he went to the Manila City Regional Trial Court to pay his P40,000 bail.

Members of the NBI arrested Bangayan after attending a Senate hearing on rice smuggling.
Branch 126 of the Caloocan court ordered the arrest of Tan.

Last Jan. 14, the NBI arrested Bangayan because of the pending arrest warrant. However, he was eventually released after showing proof that he is not David Tan.

At the Senate hearing, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima explained that Bangayan could be arrested using the same arrest warrant after the Caloocan Executive Judge approved the DOJ’s bid for his arrest.

She said they have presented before the court additional pieces of evidence showing Bangayan and Tan are one and the same person.