Suspected rice smuggling tycoon a no-show in Senate hearing
MANILA, Philippines — Davidson Bangayan, who is being tagged as the alleged rice smuggling tycoon David Tan, failed to appear before the Senate Committee Agriculture and Food hearing on Monday.
His lawyer, Benito Salazar, said Bangayan was suffering from backpains and was currently confined at the Laoag General Hospital.
Salazar said that Bangayan carried a heavy item which caused pains on his back and made it difficult for him to walk.
Salazar said that he will present Bangayan's medical certificate before the Senate panel to justify his absence from the fifth hearing on agricultural smuggling scheduled Monday morning.
During the last hearing on February 3, Bangayan was ordered to be held in contempt after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile accused him of "lying" by denying that he is the same person as David Tan.
Right after the hearing, Bangayan was arrested by members of the National Bureau of Investigation for the charge of electricity pilferage. He is currently out on bail.
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