EDITORIAL - Consequences of neglect

Police arrested a 38-year-old Indian national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday morning after he was found to be carrying guns in his luggage.
Raj Singh, who was supposed to board a 7 a.m. flight to Singapore and then proceed to India, was collared at the initial security check section of Terminal 1. His suitcase yielded two .38 caliber revolvers with six live bullets and two empty shells.
1st Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS) Terminal 1 Station head Chief Inspector Jonathan Galang said the guns were discovered and were immediately seized.
“He was arrested and identified through his travel documents,” he told The STAR in an interview, noting that Singh is now detained at the PNP-ASG detention cell.
Singh, who gave a Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City as his Philippine address and Punjab, VPO Madhek, Republic of India as his home country residence, will face at least two criminal charges before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.
“He will be charged for violating the Omnibus Election Code particularly for violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition,” Philippine National Police–Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) director Chief Superintendent Atillano Morada said.
Immigration department officials are expected to check on Singh’s travel documents to determine if he is a legal alien or not.
In a report to Morada, 1st PCAS chief Senior Superintendent Efren Labiang said Singh tried to hide his guns by wrapping them in a black garbage bag.
The revolvers, a Smith and Wesson and one with a defaced serial number, were also wrapped in carbon paper in an apparent effort to avoid detection.
However, X-ray operator Theresa Sarmiento noticed an object resembling a firearm when Singh’s luggage went through the initial security check.
She immediately informed Police Officer 2 Tranquilio Paggao Jr. and baggage inspector Chris Frederick Andrada examined the contents of the suitcase.