Man faces raps for carrying six guns on ferry

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a 45-year-old man is facing illegal possession of firearms charges after he was caught transporting six firearms on a passenger vessel that arrived in Manila yesterday morning.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they are still investigating Vicen­te Zuñiga, who claimed to be a police sergeant carrying a mission order signed by a certain Superintendent Buenafe.

Tamayo said they will turn over Zuñiga and the firearms to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for proper disposition.

Confiscated from his possession were a .38 caliber US pistol; a Brazil-made Magnum 357; a Luger with three magazines and two silencers; a 9mm Ingram with two magazines; an STI International Austin Texas .45 caliber pistol with magazines; and a 9mm Uzi rifle.

“These are loose firearms and they could be used for ill motives, even terrorism. They could be used for criminal activities such as kidnappings, (robberies) and other transnational crimes,” Tamayo said.

Information reaching the PCG head office showed that Zuñiga boarded the SuperFerry 12 in Cebu at 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 21. He tried to withdraw the firearms upon arriving at Pier 15 in the South Harbor, Manila but was immediately accosted by the sea marshals. When he failed to present the necessary supporting documents, the officers placed him under their custody for questioning.

Commodore Edmund Tan, chief of the PCG Maritime Safety and Law Enforcement Office, said that during their initial interview, Zuñiga said that he was only a courier.

“He is very brave (to carry firearms),” Tan said of Zuñiga. “There are very stringent security measures here at the Eva Macapagal Terminal. There are (security personnel manning) the gate, baggage area, X-ray machines and (there are) even canines.”

The firearms may have come from Danao, Cebu, a place known for manufacturing firearms. – Evelyn Macairan