AIRPORT authorities detained a Filipino-American passenger who was caught in possession of 36 rounds of caliber .25 ammunition which he brought from the United States.
Rufino Rondaris, 79, has just arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1 from Los Angeles, California on board Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR103 and was about to board a connecting flight PR2196 bound for Laoag City when he was intercepted at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The authorities said that screening officers manning at the final security screening checkpoint discovered the box of bullets inside the green handbag of the passenger while undergoing the mandatory screening procedure.
Rondaris denied owning the bullets, and wondering how it ended up on his green carry-on bag.
He was immediately turned over to the intelligence division of the 2nd Aviation Police Station for proper disposition.
Philippine National Police- Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) chief Mao Aplasca earlier urged the people not to bring live ammunition, amulet and other prohibited items when traveling to avoid flight delays.
Aplasca said his men and members of the Office for Transportation Security will not arrest and prosecute passengers caught with bullets and amulets following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We made a new policy as far as procedure is concern. We recover ammunition as potential evidence. We have to see it and get their contact for further investigation then we submit the ammunition to the crime lab as part of ballistic information in the data base of the PNP,” he said.
Aplasca, however, warned that if the same passenger continue and keep bringing the prohibited items, he or she will have to face stricter action from authorities.
“If for example, this passenger brought a live ammunition for the second time, we will act accordingly. It will depend on the situation,” said Aplasca.
As of August, at least 20 passengers were caught in possession of bullets and anting-anting (amulet) when they were about to pass the initial x-ray inspection at the departure area of the airport.
Aplasca said those who were caught carrying live ammunitions are mostly members of law enforcement agencies and military men, while those who carried amulets were civilians. “But as we have said we’re not arresting them, we’re just confiscating the items,” he said.
The directive of President Duterte to stop arresting passengers with bullets came following complaints over the alleged “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) extortion scheme perpetrated by some erring airport personnel.
The Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Villanueva Monreal explained that travelers would not be detained or prosecuted if an ammunition or amulet is confiscated from them.
Instead the passengers in possession of prohibited items will be placed under profiling to determine if they have links to any terrorist or criminal group, or have criminal intention to carry the bullet.
The passengers involved would be allowed to board their flight provided that no firearm is confiscated together with the ammunition.
Late last year, more than 10 Avsegroup men and 65 OTS personnel were relieved from their post in connection with the tanim-bala (bullet-planting) extortion scheme which victimize unsuspecting passengers at the airport.
