Lawyer claims evidence planted

The counsel of controversial businessman Arnold Padilla yesterday accused the police of planting evidence against his client.

Padilla and his wife Grachelle Razon and bodyguards figured in a video gone viral showing them hitting the traffic enforcers who flagged down their black car and back-up white sports utility vehicle.

“The family of Arnold Padilla denies ownership and possession of two canister grenades found by police on the occasion of a lawful search warrant,” said Raymond Fortun, lawyer of Padilla.

Fortun noted that a security footage from the back kitchen of Padilla’s residence showed two policemen entering before moving to another room but the camera, blocking the view of the kitchen, when the policemen returned.

He claimed two policemen entered the premises before the actual search was done, without the presence of barangay officials or any of his client’s household member.

“It is not surprising that the grenades were found shortly after the unlawful intrusion by the police personnel,” he said.

Fortun added that his client’s family will seek all legal remedies to protect their rights, including the filing of appropriate criminal and administrative charges against the erring policemen as well as those who instructed them to “plant” incriminating evidence Padilla.

Padilla was arrested Friday in his residence for illegal possession of grenades and firearms after authorities implemented a search warrant issued by Makati City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Elmo Alameda.

During his arrest, Padilla was taken out of his house on an ambulance after his blood pressure allegedly shot up. It was not the first time that he got entangled with the law.

A village security guard complained in 2015 that Padilla berated and spat at him when he responded to a commotion that involved the former’s group. EWB