Passenger arrested at Tacloban airport for bringing handgun bullets

INQUIRER FILES TACLOBAN CITY — Police arrested a 59-year-old businessman after airport security personnel allegedly found a magazine and 30 rounds of .45-caliber live ammunition concealed in his backpack at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport here Friday night, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) reported. The suspect, identified only as alias “Mak,” a resident of Barangay Copocawayan, Sto. Niño, Samar, was arrested at about 7:21 p.m. at the Central Security Screening Checkpoint of the airport, according to PR0 8. Police said Mak was a departing passenger booked on a flight to Manila when an X-ray operator detected the items inside his backpack at about 7:15 p.m. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Sara Duterte at QC Hall of Justice: ‘I don’t feel safe’ The bag was subjected to manual inspection in the presence of police personnel, witnesses and the passenger, resulting in the recovery of one magazine and 30 rounds of live .45-caliber ammunition. Police personnel assigned at the Tacloban Airport Police Station then conducted verification and profiling to determine the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s possession of the ammunition and whether it constituted a violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Police said the passenger was asked to present documents showing his legal authority to possess the ammunition but allegedly failed to do so. He was subsequently arrested and informed of the reason for his arrest and his constitutional rights under the Miranda doctrine in a language he understood. Article continues after this advertisement The recovered ammunition and magazine were secured and turned over to the duty investigator for proper disposition and examination. The suspect remains under the custody of the airport police station as police gather additional evidence and prepare the appropriate complaint for possible violation of RA 10591. INQ /mr Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.