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CA affirms conviction of rider caught with unlicensed firearm

By Benjamin Pulta

April 4, 2022, 4:35 pm

<p>Court of Appeals<em> (File photo)</em></p>

Court of Appeals (File photo)

MANILA – The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the 10-year sentence on a motorcycle rider caught with an unlicensed firearm at a police checkpoint four years ago.

The appellate court’s Sixth Division agreed with the Las Piñas court that found Angelo Corpuz guilty of violating Republic Act No. 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms Regulation Act.

Corpuz and a minor companion were on a motorcycle when they were flagged down by policemen who saw they were not wearing helmets at a checkpoint along C-5 Extension in Barangay Elias Aldana, Las Piñas City around 3 a.m. on May 26, 2018.

Instead of yielding, Corpuz attempted to speed away, bumping a policeman in the process.

As his companion lay down on the street, police gave chase to Corpuz and later cornered him on a grassy area where a Llama .380 pistol without a serial number was recovered from under his waistband.

Meanwhile, a man identified as Norman Garcia approached the police checkpoint and said the motorcycle was taken from him at gunpoint.

The CA said that since there was a valid warrantless seizure of the firearm, it is admissible as evidence against Corpuz.

The court said bare denial is “inherently a weak defense because it is self-serving and easy to fabricate”.

“Here, appellate merely claims that he and his companion were suddenly arrested by the police officers manning the checkpoint. However, we note that appellant did not even file any complaint against the police officers who arrested him,” the CA’s March 31 decision read. (PNA)

 

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