Guns legal, but not the security agency

The security agency that owns the high-powered firearms confiscated at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport last Friday may be fined P5,000 not for the shipment, but because they are not registered with the Firearms, Explosives & Security Agency/Guard Supervisory Section-7.

FESAGSS-7 chief Rey Lyndon Lawas yesterday said Kadayawan Security Agency administrative officer Opel Perturbos showed him yesterday all the original documents to prove that the shipment, consisting of 12 AK-47 assault rifles with 680 rounds of ammunition, two HK-53 sub-machineguns with 40 rounds, an M-16 rifle with 160 rounds and five 12-gauge shotguns, was legal.

Perturbos also clarified that the high-powered firearms especially the China-made AK-47 assault rifles, worth P40,000 each, were not smuggled but acquired from TwinPines Inc., a legitimate importer of high-powered firearms.

However, the problem is the said security agency failed to register with their office for their operations here in Cebu, the reason why they should be penalized.

Lawas said that he will recommend to PRO-7 director Silverio Alarcio that a P5,000 penalty be meted to the said security agency before his office will release the said firearms.

"They failed to register in our office prior to their operation and I recommend a P5,000 penalty," Lawas said, adding that Perturbos admitted they violated some procedures and are willing to pay the administrative fine.

Lawas also added that his office will also inspect the agency to see if they have an armory for the said high-powered firearms.

The Kadayawan Security Agency whose Cebu's branch office is located in barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, will soon start its operations in Central Visayas and will service a Land Bank of the Philippines branch.

But its planned use of AK-47 assault rifles for its guards is not yet guaranteed as the Police Regional Office-7 will determine first whether the rifle's use is applicable here in Cebu.

Perturbos said the agency, based in Davao, has been assigning AK-47 assault rifles to their men in areas where there are problems regarding the insurgency and peace and order. - Jose P. Sollano, Flor Z. Perolina and Ramil Ayuman/BRP