Celebrity doctor Joel Mendez arrested for rape

MANILA, Philippines — Celebrity doctor Joel Mendez was arrested Thursday in Mandaluyong City on charges of rape and attempted rape.

Mendez, who owns a chain of dermatology clinics in Metro Manila, was collared by local police at the parking basement of the 2000 BSA Twin Towers in Mandaluyong City at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba, director of the Eastern Police District said Mendez was arrested based on an arrest warrant for two counts of rape and attempted rape issued by Judge Imelda Portes Saulog of the Mandaluyong City regional trial court Branch 214.

A relative of the alleged victim said the warrant was issued two years ago. She said her niece was “violated” by Mendez when she was 17, ABS-CBN News reported.

Mendez’s arrest is a product of several months of surveillance and stakeout operations by local police, Balba said.

Mendez posted bail of P360,000 – P120,000 for each case – yesterday. Saulog set the pre-trial conference and arraignment on Aug. 15.

In September 2017, the Court of Tax Appeals upheld the prison term of one to three years meted to Mendez for failing to file his income tax return for 2001.

Earlier that year, police failed to serve Mendez an arrest warrant after he was convicted for failing to remit the Social Security System contributions, totaling P1.8 million, of 40 of his employees.