Leviste undergoes inquest proceedings at DoJ

ARRESTED. Convicted killer and former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste is escorted by NBI agents after undergoing inquest at the DoJ. Leviste was arrested at his office in Makati Wednesday after he failed to produce a pass allowing him to leave the Bilibid prisons. NINO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste underwent inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice on Thursday, a day after he was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents outside a commercial building he owns in Makati City.

Under heavy guard from NBI agents, Leviste and his driver Nilo Solis arrived at the DoJ compound in Manila around noon.

They were immediately whisked to the office of Senior State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo, who presided over the inquest proceedings.

Leviste was charged with evasion of service of sentence as stipulated under Article 157 of the Revised Penal Code while Solis was cited as an accomplice.

Leviste has been detained at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa after he was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison for killing his long-time friend and aide Rafael de las Alas on Jan. 14, 2009.

During the inquest, Alejo said Leviste asked her why he was arrested and where he would be taken.

“I just told him that he was arrested because he was seen in a place where he should not be staying,” Alejo told reporters.

She said Leviste’s two lawyers initially questioned the inquest, insisting that it should have been done within 18 hours after the arrest as prescribed by law. “But they eventually agreed to have the complaint submitted for resolution,” she said.