High-powered guns seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials seized a shipment of high-powered firearms abandoned at the Pair Cargo warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, an official said yesterday.

NAIA district collector Nerza Rebustes said BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon discovered the shipment during a routine inspection. The firearms – two Colt Defense automatic assault rifles, four Colt Defense M4 carbine rifles, 30 magazines and various gun parts – were valued at around P500,000.

These were purchased from Colt Defense and shipped here by a certain James Battaglini in February 2012 to the Philippine National Police. However, the importer failed to get the required permits to import firearms from the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office.

Biazon said they are studying whether to turn the firearms over to the military or police or have them used by the customs police.