Makati court finds basis to try Arnold Padilla, bodyguard

A Makati City court has found probable cause to proceed with the trial of businessman Arnold Padilla, the motorist who went viral for attacking barangay traffic enforcers last month, for illegal possession of firearms.

In an order dated September 13, Presiding Judge Josefino Subia of Branch 138 of the Makati City Regional Trial Court said there is enough proof to try Padilla and his bodyguard, Alfie Bautista Ortiz.

"Upon personal evaluation and examination of the information and its attachments, including the sworn statements of the witnesses of the people, and the resolution of the investigating prosecutor, this court finds probable cause against the above-named accused," Subia said.

The court scheduled the arraignment and pre-trial of the case on September 21 at 8:30 a.m.

Police found various firearms and explosives in two of Padilla's properties during a raid in August.

CCTV footage showed Padilla, his live-in partner, and Ortiz confronting and attacking traffic enforcers who stopped them over a traffic violation at the corner of Gate 1 of Magallanes Village and EDSA.

The businessman was later arrested over the unlicensed firearms, but not for the traffic incident.  

Padilla and Ortiz have been detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City since September 4. 

The Makati court said a commitment order will be issued for the transfer of the accused to the Makati City Jail. 

Padilla was a primary suspect in the death of his sister Yvonne Chua, who died after a "gift' containing five hand grenades exploded in her residence in Taguig on December 29, 2010. Her child, six years old at the time, was also wounded in the incident.

Padilla’s cousin, Manuel, pointed to Arnold and his mother as the brains behind the murder—an allegation that they denied. — BM, GMA News