TWO days after being arrested by a team of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents for what he denounced as a politically-motivated case, businessman Jonathan “Atan” Guardo is now on the run.

Guardo, who ran against incoming Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmena in the last elections, finished his 10-kilometer race in an hour in yesterday morning’s Looney Tunes Active Fun Run at the Northwing in SM City Cebu.

ON THE RUN. Businessman and sportsman Jonathan “Atan” Guardo (center) sprints the last few meters with Tinago Barangay Councilor Joel Garganera, a close friend, ally and fellow runner. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY MAX LIMPAG)

After the bruising elections with his bitter political rival, Guardo has been doing 15-kilometer to 20-kilometer runs as part of his preparation for two full marathons scheduled just one week apart—the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon on June 27 in Malaysia and the Milo Marathon in Manila on July 4.

Tomorrow, the businessman and sportsman is running to Danao.

Guardo was detained overnight Thursday after being arrested by an NBI 7 team who served an arrest warrant issued against him by a Manila court hearing the malversation of public funds case filed against him by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

PSC filed the case against Guardo accusing him of failing to liquidate the P10 million given to the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Cebusoc) for Cebu’s hosting of some events in the 2005 SEA Games.

Guardo stressed that the money was properly accounted for and liquidated but the Commission on Audit and PSC refused to accept his group’s report because the agencies wanted him to show infrastructure-related expenses.

He said they were told to spend on infrastructure but the money came in September 2005 for the games that were to be held in December. He said there was no way to complete any infrastructure so short a time. And besides, he said, P10 million was too small for an infrastructure project.

Guardo said the money was spent on food, transportation, hotel bills and other expenses of 1,000 athletes from various countries.

Guardo said he is confident he will be cleared of the case.