Mactan-Cebu International Airport: Chinese nabbed over guns, bullets

CEBU, Philippines - A 37-year-old Chinese national was arrested yesterday at the domestic departure area of Mactan Cebu International Airport, Lapu-Lapu City after he reportedly yielded guns and ammunition.

Screening officers of the Office of Transportation Security and Aviation Security Group-7 arrested Chow Ching Hung at around 4 p.m. yesterday during the initial screening process at the airport, said Superintendent Jose Salido, chief of ASG-7.

Confiscated from the suspect were a KG-9 unit with two magazines; a cal. 9 mm pistol and its magazine, and 100 live ammunition rounds all reportedly wrapped in a lead blanket placed inside Hung’s luggage.

“He concealed the firearms. Binalot niya sa plastic then he wrapped it with a lead blanket, nakalagay siya sa maleta. Nakita siya sa X-ray ng ating OTS under their Supervisor Jemar Nietes,” Salido said.

Lead blankets are commonly used in construction sites.

Salido said Hung was supposedly bound for Manila via Cebu Pacific Air flight number 576 and would eventually take a connecting flight from Manila to Taiwan.

“Seemingly these firearms are undocumented. These are illegal possession of firearms and clearly we will file charges against him,” Salido added.

Based on the police investigation, Hung’s passport was new and he entered the country last November 1.

He has 59 days to stay as stated in his Philippine Visa, Salido said, referring to Hung who only presented his passport and booking ticket to the police and screening officers.

As to where the live bullets and firearms were used and came from, Salido said they are still in the process of investigation.

“Actually I’ve coordinated with the R2 (Regional intelligence Division) and R3 (Regional Operations and Plans Division) of the Police Regional Office-7 including the foreign liaison so that we can request for an interpreter for this foreign national para malaman natin why he’s bringing these prohibited items inside the airport,” Salido said.

The Chinese national, who is now detained at the holding cell of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, will face charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, said Salido.

Last November 2, Japanese national Shinji Mori, 38, who was bound for Osaka, Japan was also intercepted by OTS officers after he was reportedly caught carrying a small sachet of suspected shabu and a sniffing device in his pocket.

Taiwanese national Huan-He Chao, 27, was also arrested by ASG-7 and the MCIA’s engineering department for attempting to smuggle firearms in the airport through a pink miniature seaplane placed inside his suitcase.

Dismantled firearms of a .9 mm pistol, a black widow revolver and an Ingram sub-machine gun were reportedly found in the toy model’s base stand while three magazines were found in the plane’s body.

In a recent press conference, Nigel Paul Villarete, general manager of MCIAA said confiscation of bullets happens every day in the airport and in all other airports in the country.  (FREEMAN)