Customs turns over seized guns to importer, the PNP

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) turned over on Monday high-powered guns, automatic rifle parts and 30 rounds of ammunition it had confiscated to the Philippine National Police.

Ironically, the PNP owned the cargo of firearms that was officially declared abandoned three years ago, making it appear that Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)-based customs officials were merely returning the seized cargo to its importer.

According to a report by BOC-Naia district collector Edgar Macabeo, the cargo was seized after it was abandoned at the Paircargo warehouse at the Naia complex.

Macabeo said the firearms shipment from Colt Defense LLC, based in West Hartford, Connecticut, arrived at the Naia on July 12, 2011. The shipment was consigned to the PNP through the then head of the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED), Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles.

The Naia district collector, however, did not explain why Estilles failed to claim the cargo, which ended up being declared abandoned on Feb. 9, 2012. It was also unclear if Estilles was sanctioned for his omission.

The shipment contained five automatic rifles, eight pieces of automatic rifle parts and 30 rounds of 5.56-mm ammunition.

Macabeo said the shipment was declared abandoned, “due to the failure of the consignee (Estilles) to claim it and work for its release.”

Guns and ammunition seized by the BOC must be turned over for proper disposition to the PNP-FED, which happens to be the same unit that owned the cargo of firearms and bullets in the first place.—Jeannette I. Andrade