BACOLOD CITY – A 26-year-old man was arrested in Barangay 2, Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Thursday for allegedly bribing the city police chief last year.
Police Major Antonio Benitez Jr., city police chief, said authorities served an arrest warrant for corruption of public official against Arnel Despues of Barangay Baviera, Sagay City.
Benitez said Despues was driving a motorcycle when he was flagged down by police in a checkpoint in October 2019.
He was sanctioned for a traffic violation after he failed to present a driver’s license. However, he allegedly bribed Benitez by offering him P200 to allow him to pass the checkpoint.
Benitez said the suspect was released from police custody after a criminal complaint filed against Despues fell on a regular filing.
But the prosecutor found a probable cause to push through with the case until Judge Biena Marieta Cabusao of Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Sagay City issued the arrest warrant last Feb. 18, the city police chief added.
The court set a bail of P6,000 for Despues’ provisional liberty.
Benitez said the suspect failed to recognize him during that time.
He said the suspect, who is detained at Sagay City Police Station, regretted the incident and asked for forgiveness from him for the offense he committed. (Glazyl Masculino)
