MANILA, Philippines — A case for violation of Republic Act 5207, or the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act, was filed against three individuals involved in the trade of depleted uranium.
The suspects were arrested in an entrapment operation last October 18 in Pasay City where agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recovered 20 kilograms of metal bars and three kilograms of black powder, all positive for Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.
The NBI also raided the residence of one of the suspects and seized about three kilograms of black powder, rock material, small metal materials, and other contaminated items which all tested positive for Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) also discovered that the house is heavily contaminated with an undeterminable quantity of depleted uranium power.
The area is undergoing a decontamination procedure before it is released to the owners.
Following the arrests, the NBI and PNRI implemented a search warrant at one of the arrested suspects’ house in Cagayan de Oro City.
They seized several radioactive and contaminated materials, including a black pot weighing three to five kilograms that tested positive for Uranium 238 and Uranium-235. The team also detected severe surface contamination with Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 in the various areas of the residence, including the family vehicle.
A separate operation in Mandaue City led to the seizure of about 60 kilograms of block metals, which tested positive for Uranium-238 and Uranium-235.
Separate cases were filed in Pasay City and Cagayan de Oro.
The NBI conducted a series of operations after the PNRI sought the bureau’s assistance in investigating the illegal drug trade of depleted uranium.
PNRI said depleted uranium poses a serious threat to national security because such can be used as source material for nuclear weapons.
Terror organizations are after depleted uranium to improve their weaponry. Additionally, due to its radioactivity and toxicity, it can expose the people in close contact with it to health threats.