Ex-IBP president pokes gun at revelers

A lawyer, who is a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, was arrested after he allegedly poked a gun at people celebrating New Year’s eve in Quezon City Wednesday night.

Jose Grapilon, 61, was allegedly drunk when the incident happened and even tried to resist arrest, said Police Officer 3 Antonio Torente, a desk officer at the Quezon City Police District-Station 10.

According to Torente, Grapilon – who served as IBP president in 1999 – is facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm, grave threats and direct assault of a person in authority.

In an interview, Torente said the lawyer claimed he had the papers for his Airweight caliber .38 revolver but could not show these documents.

Torente said the incident happened at around 3 a.m. yesterday in front of a house on Champaca street in Barangay Roxas, where people were having a street party.

The police said prior to the incident, Grapilon was in a black Mitsubishi Lancer with his son and had come from the house of a relative nearby when they parked the car near the street party as the two were deciding who would drive the vehicle.

However, the headlights of the sedan were trained on the partygoers, prompting one of the residents to shout and ask the lawyer if he could put out the lights, Torente said. This apparently irked Grapilon, who got out of the vehicle with his gun that he allegedly poked at the residents.

One of those at the party, village councilor Magdalena Malana, immediately called up village watchmen, who quickly responded along with policemen detailed in the area.

According to Torente, the lawyer argued with arresting officers and tried to resist apprehension.

But the confrontation did not end with his arrest and continued even after he was brought to the police station.

“He (Grapilon) was so drunk that I could not interview him... I had to ask his son to be able to get information about the lawyer,” Torente said.

Torente said Grapilon even threatened to file illegal detention charges against him.