Lawyer of bizman in viral video says cops ‘planted incriminating evidence’
MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Arnold Aquino Padilla will file criminal and administrative charges against some policemen who raided his family’s house last Friday for allegedly planting “incriminating evidence” against him, his lawyer said Saturday.
Armed with a search warrant, lawmen raided the house of Padilla and the residence of his bodyguard, Alfie Ortiz, located inside the exclusive Magallanes Subdivision in Makati City.
Police said Padilla and Ortiz yielded several firearms and ammunition during the raid. The lawmen also found hand grenades in the apartment unit rented by Ortiz.
In a text message, Padilla’s lawyer Raymond Fortun said the businessman’s family denies ownership and possession of two canister grenades found by police.
Fortun said a security footage showed two cops entering the family’s kitchen before the actual search operation happened and without the presence of the media, the barangay and any household member.
“It is not surprising that the grenades were found shortly after the unlawful intrusion by the police personnel,” the lawyer said.
“The family will seek all legal remedies to protect their rights, including the filing of appropriate criminal and administrative charges against the erring policemen and those who gave instructions to them to ‘plant’ incriminating evidence against Arnold Padilla,” he added.
A security video showing Padilla, his live-in partner and his bodyguard verbally abusing and beating a traffic enforcer during a heated argument over a traffic violation recently went viral on social media and drew backlash from netizens.
National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar, who led the raiding team, clarified the search had nothing to do with the incident involving Padilla and Ortiz.
According to Eleazar, the police had been building up a case against Padilla following reports that he is keeping several unlicensed firearms. Padilla is also facing several complaints from his neighbors, GMA News reported Friday. — with reports from The STAR/Non Alquitran
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