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Friday, March 29, 2024

MIAA officials nab man bringing in grenade at NAIA

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The Manila International Airport Authority on Saturday warned air travelers anew on the dangers of bringing in or carrying firearms and explosives as authorities continue to apprehend people carrying such items at the airport.

On Friday, airport personnel arrested Deogracias Pulmano who was caught in possession of a grenade late afternoon at the initial screening area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

Pulmano was about to board Philippine Airlines flight PR-2819 bound for Davao around 5:30 p.m. when members of the Office for Transportation Security found the MK2 fragmentation grenade inside his backpack bag.

“Upon seeing the image, the alert screeners immediately called for the K9 unit to check the item and was later confirmed to be one,” said MIAA public affairs head and chief information officer Connie Bungag.

Bungag said the OTS screeners asked Pulmano to show legal documents for possessing or for bringing in the grenade but he failed to present any. This prompted the authorities to place the passenger under arrest and confiscated the explosive.

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The OTS men turned over Pulmano to the custody of the office of the Police Aviation Security Group, pending the filing of criminal complaint against him before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office.

MIAA general manager Eddie Villanueva Monreal urged the people not to bring firearms, explosives, ammunition, amulet and other prohibited items when traveling to avoid flight delays.

He reminded travelers to secure documents, particularly a permit to transport from the Philippine National Police, when bringing guns and ammunition during their trips.

The Firearms and Explosives Office of the PNP is the police unit handling clearances for passengers who wish to bring guns and ammunition when traveling. The FEO will issue a passenger’s Permit to Transport, the basic requirement for a passenger to be allowed to bring a gun in-flight.

The said office also issues other related documents depending on the purpose of transport such as a License to Operate, Importation Permit, Authorization to Export, and a Certificate of Balance.

On the date of departure, coordination will be made by the FEO with the Avsegroup firearm facilitator deployed at the airport.

After approaching the police desk at the airport, the passenger will be accompanied by the facilitator to the Customs area for clearance before the passenger is checked in for the flight.

Coordination is made with the proper authorities, including the Avsegroup and the OTS, in making sure that procedures are followed.

While the authorities are implementing the procedure, passengers should be diligent enough to inquire with their airline and the country of destination as to their own policies with regards to the transport of guns and ammunition.

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