For brandishing gun, man sent to jail

To be believed, denial must be supported by a strong evidence of innocence. Otherwise, it is regarded as a purely self-serving tale. RTC JUDGE MOISES

A man from Cebu City spent one year in jail for waving his unlicensed firearm while shouting “Who is brave here?” outside of his house in Barangay Mambaling prior to the May 2016 elections.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises found Rogelio Camilo, Jr. guilty of violating the Comelec gun ban.

“To be believed, denial must be supported by a strong evidence of innocence. Otherwise, it is regarded as a purely self-serving tale,” read Moises’ judgment.

Police arrested Camilo outside of their house in Sitio Tugas, Mambaling, Cebu City last May 8, 2016.

Authorities said Camilo was carrying an unlicensed .22 magnum revolver loaded with five ammo, which was a violation of the Comelec gun ban.

The police responded to the information from the residents that Camilo was waving his gun while challenging everyone to a fight.

When the police arrived in the area, they saw Camilo under a power post while scrutinizing his gun.

He tried to escape upon seeing the responding officers, who chased him and caught him inside his neighbor’s house.

Replying to the charges, Camilo, 41, said he was sleeping in their house when a barangay official arrived and looked for him.

The village official then invited him to the police station, where he was detained and forced to choose what charges to be filed against him--either illegal drug or gun possession.

Camilo denied owning the gun, insisting that the firearm was planted by the police to indict him.

In his judgment, Judge Moises ruled that Camilo indeed committed the crime. The judge gave weight to the policeman’s testimony identifying the convict.

“There is no evidence that his (policeman) testimony was tainted with bias or evil motive,” said Moises.

Moises also ordered forfeited in favor of the government the gun and the ammo seized from Camilo. /