Sunday, March 23, 2008 Illegal possession raps for Village chief By Annabelle L. Ricalde
POLICE filed Wednesday a case of illegal possession of firearms, not robbery as earlier reported against Village chief Richard Gepte and his cousin Yob Jadap who were arrested for allegedly trying to rob a local trader last Saturday.
Gepte, Barangay Chair of Mantangale, Balingoan town, Misamis Oriental, and Jadap, a resident of Bonbon, this city, immediately posted bail for their temporary liberty the same day.
Chief Inspector Dexter Paje said they are set to file additional charges of robbery, trespass to dwelling and attempted murder against the suspects.
Paje said if the courts accept the new charges, warrants of arrest will be issued.
"Only the prosecutors can decide if they will accept the three cases or (decide on) what case they're going to accept," Paje said.
Gepte have denied all of the allegations by the police against him and his cousin. He said it was not true that he was arrested in Barangay Bulua after trying to elude pursuers as police have alleged.
"They're (the police) just trying to malign my reputation. I don't know anything about any robbery attempt," Gepte explained.
Gepte and Jadap were presented to Mayor Constantino Jaruala early this week after they were arrested by the Cagayan de Oro City Police office.
Police said they seized a 9mm Daewo pistol, several magazines, a Hyundai Starex van with two different sets of plates from Gepte and Jadap.
