Office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms 

MANILA — Bauan, Batangas Mayor Ryanh Dolor was detained at the House of Representatives on Thursday for repeated absence in a panel’s hearings.

House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas said Dolor was taken into custody upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from California past 12 a.m.

Last Monday, the House Committee on Public Accounts cited Dolor in contempt for repeatedly skipping hearings on the privatization of the Bauan Waterworks System despite multiple summons.

The panel issued three invitations, one show cause order and subpoena before the contempt.

Dolor's office submitted a travel authority signed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, permitting his travel to the United States from March 11 to 26, citing medical reasons.

But lawmakers questioned the lack of medical records or specific justification in the letter, including the timing of Dolor's extended travel authority.

Dolor underwent a medical checkup before being brought to the House of Representatives detention facility. 

Aside from the Bauan mayor, top officials of Aquadata Inc. were also cited in contempt and ordered detained by the House panel.

The probe stemmed from House Resolution No. 2148, seeking an inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds and irregularities in the Bauan local government's dealing with Aquadata Inc.

According to the HR No. 2148, the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a Notice of Disallowance pointing out irregularities in the bidding process and transactions with the company.

It was later awarded a contract despite allegedly failing to meet legal and financial qualifications.

The COA also found that Bauan entered into a holdover agreement with the firm, prolonging the town's financial losses.

DOLOR CAMP BLAMES ‘POLITICS’  

Wendah Dolor, the Bauan mayor's wife, claimed "politics" was behind recent events.

"Hundred percent po, gusto ko po sabihin ito po lahat ay pulitika. Pulitika po… Ito po ay pulitika at negosyo. Ang hirap po eh nagulo ang bayan ng Bauan dahil sa mga taong ang interes ay pansarili nila. Ang interes ay sa negosyo," she said in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News.  

"Nagsisimula palang po ang kampanya, pag-ikot ni Ryanh sinabi na niya, ‘May gagawin sa akin,’" she added.

When asked who was behind her husband’s woes, she refused to give names or disclose details.

"Basta po yung kalaban namin… Alam na po ng tao yan. Alam na po kung sino ang gumawa doon sa bayan ng Lobo, bayan ng San Pascual, bayan ng Mabini," she said.  

"May mga lumalapit sa amin na mga contractors na sila ay pinangangakuan na. Pinangakuan na sila ng kontrata basta samahan din sila. Sabi ko sana ang ipangako muna nila ay trabaho at ano pang pupwedeng madala ng kumpanyang ito o malaking investor nito," Dolor's wife added.

The mayor's wife denied her husband was evading the House panel hearings.

"Talaga hong pinauwi na namin para dito. Hindi para takasan niya kung ano yung imbestigasyon na ito. Pero kung nanaisin niya ho tumakas, andun na siya, di na siya para bumalik. At alam namin ang scenario na ito," she said.

She said her husband failed to attend the House hearings because he was admitted to a hospital twice in February. Earlier this month, she said Dolor went to the US for a checkup and to get a third opinion on his condition.

The mayor's wife said they filed a motion for reconsideration for his contempt order and they sent documents, videos and pictures detailing his activities and lab tests.

Dolor will remain in detention until the end of the committee hearings.