Tuesday, March 04, 2008 RTC 17 to handle pyro trader's case
THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 will be handling the appealed case of a businessman ordered by the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) to pay P1,000 or be imprisoned for less than six months for possessing firecrackers.
RTC Branch 17 Judge Renato A. Fuentes has yet to schedule the hearing of Peter Go Co after MTCC Branch 2 Judge Antonina Escovilla ordered that the original records be endorsed to the clerk of court after receiving the notice of appeal.
Records showed that the accused, assisted by his counsel Leonides Tan, pleaded not guilty when arraigned.
Co was sued after a "concerned citizen" called up the Sta. Ana Police on December 20, 2006 informing them that firecrackers were being transported into the city in a ten-wheeler truck.
An operation led to the seizure of the firecrackers and pyrotechnics worth P300,000.
Co even tried to get back the items, presenting an expired permit from Camp Crame. During trial, Co said he was just delivering an order from one Allan Sanidad of General Santos City. But this testimony was overturned by the positive claim of the police that Co went to their station, admitted ownership of the contraband, and even tried to get the items back.
The court ruled that the claim of ownership of Sanidad was just an afterthought to suit the defense of the accused thus, the conviction.
Escovilla also ordered for the seized pyrotechnics to be confiscated in favor of the government. (RMH)
