NEWSFLASH

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ROMMEL PADILLA CONVICTED FOR GUN POSSESSION

Pasig City, May 21, 1998 - Actor Rommel Padilla was sentenced yesterday by the Pasig trial court to 8 years imprisonment for illegal possession of a high-caliber firearm.

Judge Esperanza Fabon Victorino also sentenced Padilla's friend, flight steward Frederick Luna, to 8 years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and another two years for possession of marijuana.

The two were ordered to pay P30,000 each as fine.

Victorino immediately ordered the arrest of Padilla, who failed to appear in yesterday's promulgation.

Eva Carino, Padilla's mother, said she did not know her son's whereabouts.

Lawyer Robert Padilla, Rommel's older brother and counsel, said he will take the case to the Court of Appeals.

Seized from Padilla were a caliber .22 magnum machine pistol without a serial number and a magazine containing 15 rounds of ammunition. Seized from Luna was a .45 pistol marked Armscor with a magazine containing 7 rounds of ammunition and a plastic bag containing dried marijuana leaves.

Rommel's younger brother, Robin, was paroled last month after serving 3 years in jail for the same crime.