MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still tracing the whereabouts of Lynard Allan Saliring Bigcas, a businessman allegedly engaged in the sale of cars stolen from the United States as well as high-powered firearms and ammunitions.
Bigcas supposedly has links to international terrorist groups that supply the firearms and ammunition which he sells to the highest bidder in Mindanao and possibly to terrorist groups as well.
NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula said they have tightened security in Cagayan de oro City where Bigcas is believed to be hiding. The bureau is still waiting for the warrant of arrest to be issued by the Cagayan de oro Regional Trial Court (RTC).
If captured, Bigcas could be charged with illegal possession of firearms as well as violation of the anti-fencing law.
The NBI had gotten hold of a black book, which supposedly contains the suspect’s client list believed to include high-profile personalities in Mindanao.
Sources who requested anonymity said the list includes a mayor, a governor, a lawmaker, and a police colonel. Members of Muslim political clans and warlords are also believed to be among Bigcas’ clients.
A source said an employee of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is also involved in Bigcas’ business.
The sources said suspect had escaped to Cebu via Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Dipolog, and Dumaguete.
Gatdula said the NBI is still verifying the contents of the black book, which is now in the possession of NBI Northern Mindanao Regional Director Jose Justo Yap.
The NBI had discovered luxury vehicles and an arms cache in Bigcas’ two residences in Mindanao in a raid conducted last May 3 after it received a report that a custom Martin Brothers Harley Davidson worth P3.4 million belonging to Hollywood screenwriter Skip Woods was stolen.
NBI and police authorities in Misamis Oriental, along with private investigators from Orion Support Inc. (OSI), recovered Woods’ motorcycle along with other luxury vehicles in Bigcas’ residence on Santiago Street in Barangay 2, Talakag, Bukidnon.
Bigcas’ other residence is located at St. Lukes Street, Pasil, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City.
It was discovered during the investigation that Bigcas is merely using the importation of luxury vehicles as a front for gun smuggling.
Seized during the raid was a receipt for the sale of P1-million worth of M4 assault rifles.
Woods was the writer of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Die Hard 5, Swordfish, The A-Team. He initially sought the help of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after his motorcycle was stolen in Houston last year.
Woods also hired the services of OSI, a private investigation firm.
Investigation showed that Bigcas and his family are permanent US residents. It was also discovered that he is an active member of a motorcycle group in Cagayan de Oro City, which has high-profile members.
Both of the garages of Bigcas’ houses in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City contained motorcycles – some of them luxury types – from the US. Houston police traced the bike theft to a gang that transports valuable American-made motorcycles to Asia via Mexico and Los Angeles. The bike had been spotted in Cagayan de Oro being used by Bigcas.
The regional Trial Court of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City issued the search warrant for the raid on April 28 and May 2 respectively.
Seized from the house of Bigcas in Bukidnon were a 12 gauge M&F Zabala HNOS src-EIBAR shotgun made in Spain, 130 rounds live 12-gauge ammunition, 91 rounds live M-16 ammunition, four pieces M-16 magazine, 129 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, and 290 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
Also recovered in the Bukidnon residence were a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with plate no. KFA-635; a Chevrolet Tahoe, a Chevrolet Corvette, a Yamaha YZF 450, a Yamaha YZF 285; two units of Honda CRF 150F; a Suzuki GSX 1000; a RZR Ranger; and two units of all terrain vehicles (ATVs). Seized in the Cagayan de Oro City residence are an M-16 and 16 rounds of M-16 ammunition, a Martin Brothers Chopper; a black Kawasaki Ninja ; a Suzuki GSX 1000; a black Harley Big Dog.
Tip of the iceberg
A director of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the discovery of 25 hot vehicles may be just the tip of the iceberg in the car smuggling trade.
There are speculations that the Philippines may be used as a dumping ground for smuggled vehicles from first world countries.
“We are looking at the possibility that cars, not only from the United States, but from first world countries as well are being smuggled into the Philippines,” said BOC-Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) director Nestor Gualberto yesterday.
He said the Filipino’s penchant for buying second-hand vehicles creates a market for the illegal business.
He noted that Executive Order no. 156 prohibits the importation of used cars.
Gualberto said that they would determine if the vehicles were indeed smuggled.
“We are now in the process of backtracking. We want to know the port of entry and the port of origin,” he said.
They are also verifying if the LTO office in Valencia, Bukidnon is authorized to register imported vehicles.
They would also determine if there was a certificate of payment (CP) that would indicate if the vehicles passed through the BOC and paid the correct duties and taxes. – With Evelyn Macairan