36 bullets found in 79-year-old man’s bag at Naia

A 79-year-old man who had just arrived from the United States was stopped on Tuesday from boarding his connecting flight to Laoag at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 after a box of ammunition was found in his bag.

According to Aviation Security Unit-National Capital Region (Avseu-NCR) chief Senior Supt. Reynaldo Garcia, the bag of Rufino Rondaris, holder of an American passport, contained 36 bullets for a .25-cal. pistol.

But Rondaris denied any knowledge of the bullets and indignantly told the Inquirer:  “Why would I have bullets on me? What use will I have for them? I don’t even own a gun.”

Garcia said that Rondaris initially arrived at the Naia Terminal 1 on PR 103 from Los Angeles, the same flight that Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa were on.

Rondaris’ final destination, however, was Laoag City for which he had a connecting flight at Terminal 2.

Garcia said that when Rondaris’ green suitcase went through the X-ray scanning machine, the security screening officers saw what seemed to be bullets inside a box. The box was later found in one of the pockets inside the passenger’s suitcase.

Rondaris is set to be charged with illegal possession of ammunition in the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.