MANILA International Airport customs officials on Monday turned over four seized Kriss Vector submachine guns which arrived in August 2015 from the US without documentation, to the National Police chief, Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa.
The customs officials turn over the seized weapons when dela Rosa went to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at about 3 a.m. to welcome President Duterte, who returned from a weeklong visit to the Middle East.
The high-powered firearms and two receiver assemblies for the Kriss Vector submachineguns arrived onboard Eva Air under Airway Bill 695-4816-3765 and consigned to the National Police. The hot items were placed under alert status for having been brought in without an import permit.
In a letter sent to the Bureau of Customs, dated October 22, 2015, National Police’s Firearms and Explosive Office Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona said that an application for authority to import was filed by Stone of David Tactical Equipment Company (Sodtec).
But the airport authorities said the application was returned by the National Police higher headquarters in view of the company’s disqualification from a bidding process.
“The application for the authority to import by Sodtec is not yet approved, as there is still no compliance by the company on the additional documents required by the National Police,” Customs Collector Ed Macabeo said.
Macabeo recommended that a warrant of seizure and detention be issued against the shipment for violation of Section 101 and Section 2530 of the Tariff And Customs Code.
During the turnover, dela Rosa said: “We encourage everybody to fight criminality, drugs and corruption and support the campaign of President Duterte and continue the mission [to eradicate crimes] whatever it takes.”
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials said dela Rosa waited at the airport’s Dignitaries Lounge for the turn-over of the submachineguns at the customs house.
He was observed animatedly watching on television a show called the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featuring a Filipino fighter against a foreigner.
At around 7:15 a.m., dela Rosa proceeded to the Naia customs house to join the flag-raising ceremony and to receive the firearms from customs officials.