US shows interest in confiscated Galil rifles

MANILA, Philippines - The United States’ Homeland Security has shown interest in the 14 Galil assault rifles recovered from a Chinese trader during a raid in Las Piñas City Wednesday.

Like the Philippine government, the Homeland Security wants to know whether the seized firearms were part of normal exports from Indonesia or stolen from a warehouse and smuggled into the country, police said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago said he has coordinated with his counterparts in Indonesia to determine the source of the Galil assault rifles seized from trader Herbert Tan Tiu, 43, a resident of Metrocor Southgate Subdivision in Barangay Talon 3.

Tiu claimed the seized firearms were entrusted to him by a foreigner friend, who is also paying the rent on his apartment. Police raided his apartment after receiving reports he has allegedly been contacting buyers for the guns.

“Tiu appeared to be a well-educated man. He handles himself well during tactical interrogation conducted by my men,” said Santiago in an interview.

So far, Tiu has neither revealed the identity of his foreigner friend nor how the Galil rifles arrived in his rented apartment.

According to the NCRPO chief, the Homeland Security of the US has coordinated with the Firearms and Explosive Division (FED) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to closely monitor the seized Israeli-type Galil assault rifles, which were manufactured in Indonesia.

“The Americans expressed fears that the assault rifles would fall into the hands of foreign terrorists,” said Santiago.

The US government created Homeland Security following the World Trade Center attack.

Santiago has also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to determine whether the Indonesian-made Galil assault rifles are already being used by the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

The NCRPO chief also sought the help of the Philippine Coast Guard to determine whether the seized firearms are part of a shipment seized in Mariveles, Bataan last year.

There are reports that the Coast Guard confiscated the cargo manifest of Panamian-registered M/V Captain Ufuk found anchored off the coast of Mariveles with a cargo of 54 Galil rifles worth P25 million.

“We have not yet established the clear picture on how these Galil assault rifles arrived in the country. We are still waiting for documents from Indonesia and the local government agencies,” Santiago said.