The former mayor of Paracelis, Mountain Province who had been hiding from the law since his conviction in 2013, has been arrested by police on Nov. 7 in Loc-cong, Poblacion, Bontoc.
Avelino Amangyen, 63, who has yet to serve his sentence for violating the Forestry Reform Code and theft, has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Sergio Angnganay Jr., pairing judge of Branch 35, 1st Judicial Region, Bontoc.
Amangyen, who won as mayor of Paracelis in the 2022 elections, was even able to take his oath but never able to serve due to his disqualification following his conviction with finality.
He was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years and one day to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. He was also found guilty of qualified theft.
Accessory penalties for the offenses he committed are cancellation of his right to vote and the right to be voted.
The Court of Appeals and the SC affirmed his conviction in January 2018 and April 2018 respectively.
State forces who arrested the former mayor were personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, Bontoc Municipal Police Station, Police Intervention Unit/Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and 1502nd Regional Mobile Force Battalion. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
