Boxes of ammunition seized in Batangas port

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities seized five boxes of ammunition and accessories from a passenger bus that was about to board a roll-on roll-off vessel at the Port of Batangas last week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

Captain Gregorio Adel Jr., PCG Batangas station head, said aside from the five boxes, his men confiscated a plastic bag containing various items from a bus of Dimple Star Bus Line.

The PCG found 6,400 bullets for different types of guns, 400 shells for a 9mm pistol, 600 shells for a caliber .45 pistol and several items believed to be part of a caliber .45 pistol.

Adel said the plastic bag contained three backpacks, five handbags, 13 holster bags, six low-carry holsters, four leather side holsters, 15 cloth side holsters, 12 ammunition holsters, six identification card holders, one quick release holster, a magazine holster, 11 earplugs and eight eye protection glasses.  

He said the items were discovered as his men were inspecting the baggage compartment of the Dimple Star bus, which was about to board the M/V Starlite Ferry going to Calapan City on March 7.

One of the PCG’s bomb-sniffing dogs reacted when it detected the cargo in the bus’ baggage compartment.

The PCG traced the owner of the cargo to a certain Winston Navarosa. The cargo was reportedly bound for Iloilo, the vessel’s final destination.

PCG spokesman Armand Balilo said although the shipment was supported by a photocopy of a permit to transport issued by the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Division, the shipper violated a policy of the Maritime Industry Authority.

“These are dangerous cargo and should not be loaded on board passenger ships. These should have been placed in a cargo vessel. We confiscated the ammunition and are still waiting for the owner to appear before us,” Balilo said.