Chinese trader faces gun raps over seized Galil rifles

MANILA, Philippines - Police filed 14 counts of illegal possession of firearms charges against a Chinese trader who yielded Galil assault rifles during a raid Wednesday on his house in Las Piñas City.

Herbert Tan Tiu, 43, a resident of Metrocor Southgate in Barangay Talon 3, was charged before the Las Piñas City prosecutor’s office yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago said his legal team is studying whether the charges against Tiu could be upgraded to gunrunning because of the quantity of firearms recovered in his possession.

“I’m just waiting for the recommendation of my legal team. Once they say that gunrunning would hold water in court, we will immediately amend the charges against Tiu,” he said.

The NCRPO chief said they are still waiting for documents from the Indonesian embassy in Manila and other government agencies in their bid to trace the origin of the seized Galil assault rifles.

The Israeli-type firearms were manufactured in Indonesia, and the Homeland Security of the United States has expressed fears that it would land in the hands of terrorists.

Santiago said they strongly suspect that the Galil assault rifles were part of the cargo seized from an abandoned Panamian-registered vessel M/V Captain Ufuk in Mariveles, Bataan last year.

The Coast Guard, which seized the vessel’s cargo manifest, told Santiago that they would forward the document to the NCRPO by next week.

The ship’s captain, Bruce Anthony Jones, 50, who turned government witness, was shot dead last month by motorcycle-riding men in Angeles City.

According to Santiago, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) promised to forward to the NCRPO the file on Jones’ case next week.

Santiago said that Tiu, questioned about Jones’ death, denied any involvement in the killing.

Tiu, who is involved in gun trading, claimed the Galil assault rifles were entrusted to him for safekeeping by a foreigner friend who is also paying the rent on his apartment.

Superintendent Remus Medina, head of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operation unit said Tiu is cooperating in their bid to trace the origin of the seized firearms.