Ex-Bulacan vice mayor arrested after standoff

MALOLOS, Philippines — After a standoff with police officers for almost 20 hours, a former vice mayor of Marilao, Bulacan was arrested yesterday at his home in Barangay Poblacion II for qualified theft.

Andre Santos was collared by personnel of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team at around 4 p.m., according to Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director.

During the standoff, Santos injured his arm when he broke a window of the room, where he was holed up, when the SWAT team lobbed a tear gas canister.

Bersaluna said the warrant of arrest was issued by Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 195 Judge Aida Estrella Fojas.

Bersaluna said Santos, who locked himself on the second floor of his house when police officers arrived on Thursday night, claimed that he was armed with a gun and a grenade.

Negotiations for Santos’ surrender continued until yesterday.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado joined a team of negotiators at around noon yesterday.

At 3:30 p.m., authorities said they cut power supply  and threatened to barge into Santos’ house if he would continue to resist arrest.

Santos is running for mayor of Marilao in next year’s elections.

His relatives said the former mayor has been depressed since he lost in the elections in 2016. Santos is also reportedly using illegal drugs.

Santos denied allegations of drug use. He said his opponents are using the qualified theft case filed against him to ruin his political career.