Businessman, 'gun runner' post bail for illegal possession charges

CEBU, Philippines – The businessman and trisikad driver who were placed under arrest a few days ago for illegal possession of firearms are temporarily free after they posted bail yesterday.

Robert Nicholas Granthom who was arrested after National Bureau of Investigation agents swooped down on his residence in Barangay Cogon-Ramos last Wednesday posted a P60,000 bail while Joel Laurente who was caught at a checkpoint last Monday night posted a surety bond of P80,000.

Granthom is facing charges before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities after the search yielded a CZ 9 mm pistol, a Walther P22 with silencer, a HK 9 mm pistol, a Walther G22 rifle, and a KWC airsoft pistol.

Also confiscated were 10 pieces M-16 magazines, three boxes of Remington 9 mm ammunition, another box containing live ammunition of 9mm, one box assorted M-16 bullets, one box containing caliber .45 ammunition, one caliber .45 barrel, and 41 pieces of caliber .45 ammunition.

The agents also took nine pieces of combat knives, five holsters, four digital weighing scales, assorted small plastic sachets, assorted tablets, and four transparent plastic with Chinese characters containing stubs.

The case against Granthom was filed before MTCC because only the licenses of the low-powered firearms expired. He was able to present licenses for the high caliber firearms.

However, Laurente, a resident of Danao City, is facing charges before the Regional Trial Court, as the firearms seized from him at the checkpoint were all high-caliber.

Laurente said he was allegedly paid to transport guns from Danao City to Pier 3. Seized from him were several firearms reportedly manufactured in Danao City that he was supposed to hand over to a certain Tata at Pier 3 for the latter to take to Ormoc City in Leyte.

Laurente also claimed it was the second time he transported firearms from Danao to the pier. (FREEMAN)