Man posts bail for illegal possession of firearms; arrested again for murder

CEBU, Philippines - A man posted bail last Tuesday after being arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms. But while he thought that he was already free to leave, police officers arrested him again for a pending warrant of arrest for the crime of murder, this time non-bailable. 

Rojie dela Peña, 27, from Tungkop, Minglanilla was arrested by police officers just minutes after he posted the bail of P18,000 for the possession of unlicensed firearms.

SPO1 Jay Yballe of the homicide section said that upon learning that dela Peña has a pending warrant of arrest, he quickly went to the Palace of Justice to arrest the suspect who was posting bail.

In an interview with dela Peña, he said that he regretted having posted bail. "Maayo pa wa nalang ko mo-pyansa og P18, 000," he said.

After the second warrant of arrest was served, the court did not recommend a bail bond for his temporary liberty.

The suspect admitted that he was involved, although did not have actual participation, in the killing of a member of their rival gang in 2010.

"Myembro man gud siya sa gang nga among kontra," said dela Peña, who reportedly was the leader of their gang at that time.

Police also believe that the suspect is involved in a series of robbery incidents because of the several identification cards and ATM cards recovered from him when he was arrested last Saturday.

During the arrest in Barangay Bulacao, two firearms were recovered in his possession but he denied ownership of the guns and his supposed involvement of the robbery cases. — (FREEMAN)