Court orders arrest of Zambales mayor

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales , Philippines  – The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Mayor Romeo Lonzanida of this town after deciding on a criminal case filed against the public official for falsification of public documents.

The Fourth Division of the Sandiganbayan issued a Bench warrant of arrest for finality of judgment and directed the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to bring Lonzanida to court.

“The mayor is now considered a fugitive, and if we catch him we will bring him directly to the Sandiganbayan,” said Inspector Apolinario Mendoza, the chief of police of this town.

“We exerted all efforts to serve the warrant of arrest but Lonzanida remains in hiding,” Mendoza told The STAR.

The Sandiganbayan likewise issued a hold departure order and directed the Bureau of Immigration to arrest Lonzanida.

Meanwhile, the Zambales Provincial Prosecutor’s Office formally installed San Antonio, Zambales Vice Mayor Lugil Ragadio as the new mayor of the town after the Supreme Court rendered its sentence with finality against Lonzanida on charges of falsification of public documents.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jeoffre Falivchao administered the Oath of Office of Ragadio at the Zambales Provincial Hall of Justice in the presence of Zambales second district Rep. Antonio Diaz and other San Antonio municipal officials.

Aside from Ragadio, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office also installed councilor Imelda Aratea as the new vice mayor and the presiding officer of the San Antonio Municipal Council.