Consignee of seized explosive materials in Lucena still a mystery

The Taguig businesswoman identified as the consignee for three tons of chemicals for explosives seized in Lucena City, Quezon could be operating a "fly-by-night" business, according to barangay officials.

Businesswoman Virginia Letran, owner of Mafel Marketing based in Pinagsama Village, Western Bicutan, was the consignee for three tons of ammonium nitrate, two drums of potassium cyanide, and 1,000 kilos of potassium nitrate seized by policemen the other day.

"We do not know a store by that name in this area. We also do not know the businesswoman mentioned in the reports," a barangay official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

The barangay official added that Letran’s business may be "fly-by-night," and that "she could have used a residential address because we know all the stores in Pinagsama village."

Letran’s name was also not found among the voters listed in Taguig.

"Maybe she’s not even registered," the official said.

The STAR tried but failed to contact Taguig’s Bureau of Permits and Licenses Office (BPLO) to verify the existence of Mafel Marketing.

Police arrested four men as they were unloading three tons of ammonium nitrate, reportedly without a permit, at a warehouse in Lucena City before dawn last Tuesday.

The suspects were arrested when they could not produce a permit authorizing them to transport the cargo or explain why it was transported to Lucena if the consignee was in Taguig.

The ammonium nitrate — in 120 25-kilo sacks — is enough to flatten a whole city block. Though the chemical has not been listed as an ingredient in recent attacks, it was used in a bombing that killed nearly 200 people this month in Bali, Indonesia.

Potassium nitrate, also called salitre in Filipino, is used for curing meat but is also a component in black powder, matches and fireworks.

Police plan to charge the four men with violating a law against transporting and selling fertilizer without a permit, said Romualdo Uy, a senior police officer in Lucena.

Senior Superintendent Geary Barias, chief of the Philippine National Police firearms and explosives division, said they might revoke Letran’s license for violating regulations. She also faces possible criminal charges.

He said Letran should have notified authorities before transporting the substances, which should only be sold to licensed buyers.

"They should be escorted by police in transporting these kinds of chemicals," Lucena police intelligence chief Antonino Maglinao said.

Barias added that they might also file charges of illegal possession of explosives against one Harry Valera for buying the cargo without a license.

The owner of the warehouse, who is also being questioned by police, said the substance was to be sold to mango farmers as fertilizer.