BOC can't donate smuggled gun parts, ammunitions pending court litigation

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs in Cebu has advised the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council that it cannot release the P3.5 million worth of gun parts and ammunitions seized last year pending the litigation in court.

A representative from the BOC joined the regular meeting of PCAC yesterday in response to the council's letter last week requesting the agency to donate the seized gun parts and ammunitions to the Cebu City Police Office.

PCAC Presiding Officer Eugene Elizalde said they were promised that BOC will furnish the PCAC a copy of the inventory of the seized contrabands now stored at the Customs warehouse.

"Pending the case in court, the Customs can not release the ammos. BOC said the case must be resolved first, then they can act on our request," Elizalde said.

Nevertheless, BOC Port of Cebu has endorsed their request to BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

"So basin ma-delay gamay, but BOC said pwedeng madali ang resolution sa case since naa ma'y request from the LGU," Elizalde said.

PCAC will write a letter within this week to the Department of Justice for the speedy resolution of the case against the suspected gun smugglers.

Elizalde said they requested for the donation of the items to the City Police so it can be put to good use.

He said that the items are better used in the police's peace and order mission rather than rot in the warehouse.

The gun parts and ammunition were seized by Customs stashed in a 40-foot container van bound for Cebu last November.

The items were sealed in five steel crates. The shipment was declared as used disassembled truck head and used household goods valued at US$ 6,500. The gun parts included a night vision telescope and 8,000 7.62mm rounds for an AK-47 rifle. – (FREEMAN)