MANILA, Philippines鈥揂n initial security check at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 failed to detect the .22-cal. pistol tucked in the checked baggage of an American on his way back to the United States.
Fortunately, his airline鈥檚 redundancy check did, preventing Ray Moyer, 69, from slipping the firearm out of the country.
Moyer, of Oklahoma, was stopped by airport authorities at 8:55 a.m. on Thursday at Naia 3 shortly before Delta Air flight DL 276 was to board for Narita, Japan, and then onward to Detroit, USA.
Authorities found a .22-cal. pistol loaded with five rounds in his luggage, a violation of Republic Act No. 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Police Senior Insp. Dave Mahilum, officer in charge at Naia 3, said that under Philippine laws, foreigners are not allowed to buy, own or carry firearms or ammunition.
鈥淗e admitted that it was his. But when we asked him where he bought it or if he was carrying it upon arriving in the country, he gave us no response,鈥� Mahilum said.
He said Moyer was in the country to visit a girlfriend in Bacolod City.
鈥淭he personnel manning the X-ray scanner might have overlooked the luggage with the gun. We will investigate if there were lapses on the part of the Office for Transportation Security,鈥� Mahilum said.
A redundancy or second check is conducted by US-bound airlines of checked and carry-on luggage as mandated by US aviation laws.鈥�Ni帽a P. Calleja
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