Politics behind alderman’s tax case?

While the upcoming 2022 elections is still a year away, the battle between contending parties in Caloocan City is heating up, after a councilor who is expected to run for congressman has allegedly gone into hiding for a tax evasion case.

Alex Mangasar, 2nd District councilor, denied he was hiding from the law.

“There is no truth to the allegation that I am missing or hiding. In fact, I am only here in the city, if not in my office, in city hall or in the Mangasar Rescue Offices,” Mangasar said in a press conference on Monday.

“I would also like to apologize for the involvement of Cong. Egay Erice in this issue. I think the motive for his involvement was the hot politics here in Caloocan. I think it is part of the demolition job against me,” he added.

Meanwhile, Councilor Lanz Almeda, a well-known ally of Mayor Oscar Malapitan, denied allegations that city hall had a hand in the charges against Mangasar.

“Based on the info that was gathered, this case was filed in 2011. It’s been 10 years, and the Department of Justice (DoJ) has found probable cause. Naturally, the DoJ will file it in court. As a legal consequence, the court will issue a warrant of arrest if it saw there was probable cause in the case filed. Therefore, how can there be politics involved?” Almeda declared in another press conference.

The councilor stressed the Constitution mandates the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.

“The warrant of arrest was issued by the Judiciary. I cannot think of a way how city hall can influence the judiciary. That’s why as a colleague and as a friend, it will not help Councilor Alex Mangasar to go to social media and claim politics is behind everything that is happening to him. If I were him, I would get a really good lawyer and answer the charges against him in court. Face the charges squarely,” Almeda added.

Mangasar, who is on his first term as councilor, allegedly did not receive a warrant of arrest at his office and even at home.