Brother of Robin Padilla evades arrest over missing firearm

The Sandiganbayan First Division has released another arrest warrant against the brother of action star Robin Padilla in connection with his conviction for a missing firearm.

In a resolution, the antigraft court First Division issued an alias warrant of arrest against Casimiro “Roy” Padilla Jr., the former Camarines Norte governor who was convicted in 2012 for malversation of public property for failing to return a .45 caliber pistol issued to him in 1992 as his service firearm.

The court said Padilla appealed the conviction to the Supreme Court, which in 2013 denied his appeal and rendered the Sandiganbayan’s decision final and executory.

The Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant again after a resident Erwin Lurcha wrote a letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno saying Padilla remains “visible” in Camarines Norte and is in fact telling people he would run for Congress.

“A warrant of arrest was issued on July 31, 2014 which remains unimplemented as of this time. In view, however, of the statement of Mr. Erwin Lurcha that the accused remains actively visible in Camarines Norte, the Court hereby directs the issuance of an alias warrant of arrest against the accused,” the resolution read.

Padilla was convicted because he refused to return the firearm worth P7,462 despite demands by the Philippine National Police.

Padilla was sentenced to a prison term of four months and one day of arresto mayor as minimum to four years and two months of prision correccional as maximum, with perpetual special disqualification from holding public office.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of P200.

Padila is the elder brother of siblings Robin and Rustom Padilla (who is now transgender woman BB Gandanghari).