Incumbent Sta. Fe, Leyte Mayor Gaudioso Fajardo Jr., 49, who is now detained at the CIDG Camp Crame’s detention cell for estafa and illegal possession of ammunition, turned out to have been convicted by the Pasig Special Criminal Court in connection with the charges filed against him in 1981 by Ramon Junio and Rosa Rebustillo.
A decision penned by Pasig RTC Branch 156 Judge Martin Villarama in 1989 sentenced Fajardo to 12 to 14 years in jail for illegal possession of ammunition and three to six years for estafa.
CIDG director Officer-in-Charge, Senior Superintendent Jesus Verzosa, said Fajardo managed to stay away from prison right after his conviction through a bond, only to jump bail which prompted the Pasig City court to affirm its earlier decision.
Following his disappearance in Metro Manila, Fajardo surfaced in his hometown in Sta. Fe, Leyte, entered local politics, and got elected as town mayor despite being a fugitive of the law.
It was learned that two of Fajardo’s complainants sought the CIDG’s assistance in enforcing the court decision ordering his immediate arrest to serve the two prison terms.
Fajardo was arrested by PO3 Marlon Lagunsad and three CIDG agents of the 8th Regional CIDG office while about to board a PAL flight to Manila at about 7:15 a.m. at the Tacloban airport.
Fajardo refused to grant The STAR an interview inside his detention cell.  Jaime Laude