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Friday, September 08, 2006
Raps mulled v. man who brought 'bomb' into plane
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Government is considering charging Samson Macariola, self-styled counter-terrorism expert, with alarm and scandal and unjust vexation for allegedly fooling around with the country's security system.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte claimed that Macariola, a consultant for security training of the Davao International Airport, did not have clearance from him to try to test security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Davao airport.
Ermita said the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Command is also looking into the possibility of charging Macariola with violating Presidential Decree 1866 or the law punishing the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
Duterte urged Macariola and Philippine Daily Inquirer contributor Arlyn dela Cruz to come out and explain the "ruckus" they had caused over a report of alleged airport security breach.
Unconfirmed reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that Macariola and dela Cruz are friends. Their friendship started at the height of the Sipadan hostage crisis where dela Cruz was among the hordes of reporters who covered the incident.
Macariola was said to be also doing work for some people in government at that time.
No knowledge
Duterte said he has nothing to explain about Macariola's successful attempt to sneak in a "bomb" onboard a plane from Davao City to Manila and back last August 14 since he has no prior knowledge about it.
He said it is Macariola and the reporter who have a lot of explaining to do to the public.
Duterte said he does not believe Macariola's claim that he was able to successfully smuggle a bomb into the airplane, which saw print in a national daily, as the consultant had admitted to the mayor that the so-called bomb was only made from clay.
"When I asked him if that was a real bomb that he was able to sneak in the plane, he told me it was not. But that he just did not reveal it to airport police during the lecture just to put them on their toes," Duterte said.
Macariola first divulged his successful test run during a lecture in Davao City last August 14 and 15 where he showed video clips of how he successfully sneaked in a "bomb" through airport security and assembled it on the plane.
Duterte said he has nothing against such experiments for as long as it was done in a "controlled environment."
False claims
The mayor admitted he is angered by Macariola's false claims that came out in the paper.
He said it was not the same story Macariola told him during their last conversation.
"Parang napasukan man yata ng bakokang ang ulo nya at kung ano-ano na ang pinagsasabi (I don't know what prompted him to say those things). Galit ako sa kanya (I'm angry at him) because he placed the nation at an uncertain balance," Duterte said.
Duterte assured the public not to be worried about the situation.
He denied sanctioning the test run, saying he would never jeopardize the lives of the flying public just to test the worthiness of their security setup at the airport.
"Here in Davao, I do not even allow people to possess firecrackers how much more if you bring in a bomb. If you bring bomb here, I will shoot you in public," Duterte said.
The mayor advised some politicians to refrain also from blaming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the incident.
He said the President is as innocent as he is.
"There are some senators who are quick to pick on the President. Naaawa ako sa Presidente (I pity the President). I'm not trying to pick a fight with anybody. I would like to tell the Manila people na wag nyo din ako ituro (to not blame me)," Duterte said.
City consultant
Macariola is said to be an expert in firearms and ammunitions, being consultant to several firearms company all over the country. He also conducted several lectures and trainings on firearms and explosives to various police, military, and civilian entities.
Duterte tapped Macariola as consultant on firearms and ammunition management services starting January this year. His contract with the City Government is supposed to end on December 31 this year.
Duterte said though that right after the public uproar brought about by the Philippine Daily Inquirer report, he has no more contact with Macariola.
Ermita said the security test created so much alarm.
"It has also tarnished the Philippines's security setup with the international community...that there is one person who slipped through airport security. We are taking this seriously, nobody should play around with our security measures," Ermita said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(September 8, 2006 issue)
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