Arrest Warrant for Palawan Mayor Accused of Rape
A Cebu judge has ordered the arrest of Rizal, Palawan Mayor Nicolas Montano for rape.
Members of the Cebu police, accompanied by the provincial police, served the arrest warrant on Montano while he was in a hotel in Puerto Princesa City on Monday afternoon.
The warrant was issued last Aug. 25 by Cebu Judge Gilbert Montes.
Montano was already set to board a Philippine Airlines plane to Cebu, accompanied by the arresting lawmen, when he complained of chest pains and was brought by an ambulance to the provincial hospital where he was confined for hypertension.
Provincial hospital chief Glorifino Juan has declined to comment on the medical condition of Montano, who remained at the hospital’s emergency room unit overnight and had declined media interviews.
Col. Rodolfo Amurao, of the Puerto Princesa police, who conferred with Montano when he was served the arrest warrant, quoted Montano as saying that the rape charge was “mere harassment.â€
Palawan Mayors’ League President Marjo Reyes, in an interview with a local radio station, said their group will support Montano in the case.
Montano is a first-term mayor who won under the local opposition ticket Partido Para sa Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP) but has since abandoned it to ally with the administration of incumbent governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra.
PPP spokesperson Joey Mirasol said in a text message to the Inquirer, “we are shocked but relieved that he (Montano) resigned from the PPP, which spared us the embarrassment.â€
The details of the rape case allegedly involving Montano were not immediately available. Redempto D. Anda, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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