Road ‘bully’ pleads not guilty in gun, explosives raps

MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Arnold Padilla, who was seen bullying and beating up traffic enforcers in a viral video, pleaded not guilty on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives before a Makati regional trial court yesterday.

Padilla and his bodyguard Alfie Ortiz were arraigned before Branch 138 Judge Josefino Subia.

Ortiz also pleaded not guilty in the charge of illegal possession of ammunition against him.

Their lawyer, Vedalyn Altonaga, asked the court to return her clients to Camp Bagong Diwa from the Makati City Jail for health and security reasons.

Prosecutors, in turn, asked the court to have Altonaga’s motion be done in writing and that she should cite “compelling grounds” for the transfer.

During the pre-trial proceedings, both sides established that Padilla has no permit and license to possess firearms while Ortiz is a firearms license holder but not a licensed sports shooter.

Subia scheduled hearings for the prosecution from Oct. 17 to Jan. 16, 2019 and the defense from Feb. 6 to April 10, 2019.