Crisologo released; evidence fails to justify arrest, prosecutor says

The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office has ordered the release of Quezon City mayoral bet Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo and recommended that the multiple complaints, including obstruction of justice and direct assault filed against him by the local police, be investigated further.

Assistant City Prosecutor Felomena Apostol-Lopez said in the resolution that “a scrutiny of the Joint Affidavit of Arrest, as well as the pieces of the evidence presented, failed to justify the in flagrante delicto arrest of the respondents.”

The resolution was released at around 2 p.m. Monday, at least five hours after Crisologo underwent inquest proceedings at the Quezon City Hall of Justice.

Crisologo and his other companions appeared during the inquest with their legal team after they were held under police custody for almost 12 hours.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed complaints for violation of Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code for vote-buying and selling, obstruction of justice, unjust vexation, disobedience and resisting arrest, direct assault upon an agent of a person in authority and illegal detention against Crisologo.

Meanwhile, a case for vote-buying and selling was also filed by the QCPD against the 43 volunteers of Crisologo.

But the resolution stated that the evidence showed by the complainant is “presently unclear that the crime of vote-buying and vote selling took place.”

“There is no showing of a clear offer to purchase a vote and acceptance of the offer,” it added.

On the other complaints filed against the mayoral candidate, the inquest resolution stated that the “circumstances surrounding the incident and the exact participation of each of the respondents have to be threshed out more thoroughly in a full blown preliminary investigation.”

After he was released and at least three hours left before polling precincts closed, Crisologo was able to cast his vote in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Quezon City.