Sunday, August 27, 2006
Firearms cache stopped at Cebu airport
CEBU CITY -- High-powered guns and ammunition that an official believes would have been used to cause trouble during an international summit in December were intercepted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) last Friday.
Superintendent Jose C. Cosio, Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS) 7 chief, said the firearms came from Davao City-based Kadayawan Security and Investigation Agency.
Based on plane documents, the cargo is intended for the Davao Security and Investigation Agency (Dasia) in Sitio Matumbo, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.
But while the firearms were declared, a policeman detailed at the cargo arrival area got suspicious because the cargo was extraordinarily heavy.
That prompted PCAS to have the shipment pass through the airport's X-ray machines.
Twelve AK 47 rifles with 680 rounds, two HK 53 submachine guns with 40 cartridges, M16-A1 rifles with 160 rounds and five 12-gauge shotguns were found.
Cosio said the guns were enough to arm a platoon.
Franz Muñoz, Port of Mactan Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) chief, said they are now tracing where the firearms originated.
AK 47s are manufactured in China and Russia, while a company called Heckler and Koch makes HK 53s in Germany.
All are imported and therefore subject to duties and taxes, Muñoz said.
PCAS identified the shipper as Rommel Pawaon of Kadayawan Security, and the consignee as Romulo Masauding of Dasia.
Masauding went to the airport to claim the cargo, but Cosio told him it will only be released if the Davao police will confirm the transport permit and will give details on why the guns were shipped to Cebu.
Cosio said they would arrest Masauding once they find out that the permit is bogus.
He said they will temporarily take custody of the firearms.
Except when assigned with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, security guards are not allowed to carry such types of guns, he further said.
Cosio believes the firearms passed security inspection at Davao City International Airport because the shipment was covered with a transport permit issued by Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 in Davao.
Another, however, signed the permit for Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, PRO 11 director.
Senior Superintendent Carmelo E. Valmoria, RPO 7 operations chief, told Sun.Star that Villaroman denied issuing the permit and will even conduct an investigation once he gets a copy of the document.
Masauding, in a telephone interview, said he was only instructed to get the firearms and did not know the permit's details.
He said Camp Crame's firearms and explosives division licensed the guns under Kadayawan's name.
He added they were sent to Cebu for distribution to 20 security guards assigned in five Land Bank of the Philippines armored units. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)
(August 27, 2006 issue)
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