By Joel M. Sy Egco

A FORMER president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was arrested yesterday for allegedly poking an unlicensed revolver at village officials and residents who were celebrating New Year’s Eve in a street party in Quezon City.

Lawyer Jose Grapilon, 61, was taken in for inquest proceedings at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and grave threats.

The complainants included a councilor, a police officer, and residents of Champaca Street in Roxas village.

Quezon City Police Chief Magtanggol Gatdula confirmed that Grapilon was a former president of the Integrated Bar and a member of the powerful Sigma Rho fraternity.

He said Supt. Ferdinand Ampil, who is in charge of the case, had received calls from “a lot of people” over the incident.

Ampil declined to comment on the reported pressure, but said he was duty-bound to arrest any suspect.

“What can I do? It’s my job. There are 11 complainants here,” Ampil said of Grapilon’s arrest.

Grapilon, IBP president from 1997 to 1999, was allegedly drunk when the incident happened.

He tried to resist arrest and attempted to escape while being taken to Police Station 10, P03 Antonio Torente said.

He said Grapilon had claimed he had the papers for his Airweight .38 cal. revolver, but could not present the documents.

Grapilon then offered him a P500 bribe, Torente said.

The incident happened around 3 a.m. on Champaca Street. Grapilon, in a black Mitsubishi Lancer, had just come from a relative’s house when he parked his car on a curb with its headlights on.

Disturbed, a resident asked the lawyer to turn them off, but Grapilon got out of the vehicle with his gun drawn and poked it at the revelers.