The 31-year-old rap artist who was once romantically linked to superstar Nora Aunor, was arrested along with a companion in Ermita, Manila yesterday for possession of an unlicensed firearm and shabu.
Rendez, John Robert Porter in real life, of 115 10th street, Gilmore, Quezon City and his friend Robert Regala, 42, of 3514 Taragon Building, EDSA, were arrested by two patrolling policemen in front of the Maxim’s Tea House on M.H. del Pilar Street at about 2:30 a.m.
According to detective Vic Noriega of the Western Police District Intelligence and Investigation Division (WPD-DIID), two police officers on patrol – , PO3 Roldolfo Marzo and PO2 Francis Mañago – were tipped by a watch-your-car boy who saw a gun inside Rendez’s pick-up truck, a black Dodge Ram 4x4 with plate number UFF-968.
Upon checking the vehicle, the two officers saw a caliber .38 revolver on the back seat.
Noriega said the two officers then waited for Rendez and Regala to come out of the restaurant and accosted them as they were about to open the vehicle’s doors.
When the officers demanded to see the gun’s license and permit to carry, Rendez said he was unaware that a gun was inside the truck, which he said was borrowed by Aunor from action star Ian Veneracion. Noriega said the truck was used by Rendez to run an errand for the actress somewhere in Ermita.
Noriega said that while the two police officers were questioning Rendez, Regala allegedly threw away a small plastic sachet. It later turned out to be a sachet contained three grams of shabu.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and illegal drug possession against the two men were filed yesterday by the WPD-DIID with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.
Sources said Rendez and Regala were made to stay inside an air-conditioned room and not at the WPD integrated jail.