Philippine police seize weapon parts, allege plot to kill president

Manila: Police in the Philippines say they may have foiled a plan to assassinate President Rodrigo Duterte, after intercepting weapons that were allegedly being smuggled into the country as part of the plot.

Parts for nearly a dozen high-powered firearms were being slipped into the country as part of the mission, one of the arrested suspects said at a press conference on Thursday.

Wilford Palma, the detained illicit arms dealer, told reporters on Thursday that assorted weapons parts for 5.56 millimetre assault rifles were being slipped to the country from the United States over the last two years using a parcel courier service registered with the Philippine government — Atlas Shippers International Incorporated.

The company ships boxed consolidated cargo, or so-called “Balikbayan” boxes, from the US.

“There were previous deliveries from the US which were facilitated through Atlas Shippers International Incorporated, involving the delivery of 104 different major component parts and 298 minor component parts for 5.56 rifles, accessories, and bullet proof vests,” police director-general Rolando dela Rosa said at the press briefing where Palma laid bare details of the arms smuggling operation.

“[They] were all delivered on different occasions to 129 people and one company across the country,” dela Rosa said.

Palma said some of the parts for the unassembled weapons, which included vital components such as barrels, bolts and trigger mechanisms as well as gun chassis upper assemblies, were to be used in an assassination attempt on Duterte.

“We are still confirming if there is truth to Palma’s statement that the arms parts smuggling was somehow connected with a plot against the President,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa himself has in the past claimed there was an assassination plot against the president.

So far, authorities have come up with little additional information to substantiate the perceived threats on the life of the 71-year-old populist leader.

Palma, in the same news conference, admitted selling gun parts through the internet over the last two years.

Dela Rosa said US Homeland Security had provided information on the gun smuggling syndicate.

The police official also said they were looking into the possible involvement of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in firearms smuggling rings, using Balikbayan boxes.

During a press briefing on Thursday, dela Rosa also presented another suspect, Bryan Ta-ala who revealed how tightly regulated items, such as gun parts, were being smuggled into the country in violation of the law.

Although qualified individuals and private firms can import gun parts, the items must be covered by relevant import permits.

“We were able to bring in weapon parts using fictitious names and false documents. The packages with the contraband of different firearms components are bought in the US, and shipped to the country through the use of legitimate international cargo forwarders,” Ta-ala explained.

“The items are then sold to gun enthusiasts across the country, which are then shipped to customers using local courier services.”

Only last June, the Philippines approved a law that allows Filipinos from abroad to bring in more parcel cargoes using Balikbayan boxes.

While the new Balikbayan box law raised the cap on tax exempt privileges of Filipinos abroad from P10,000 (Dh785) to P150,000, unscrupulous shippers used the new law to smuggle in high value items such as guns.

Ta-ala and Palma were both arrested in Bacolod City in Central Philippines last month.

“Ta-ala and Palma have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation being conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on the shipment, trading, and selling of smuggled gun parts,” dela Rosa said.

Nine other suspects who bought guns from the US and shipped them to the Philippines were arrested.

According to Palma, previous deliveries from the US were facilitated through the Balikbayan box courier, Atlas Shippers International Incorporated.

Among the items seized from the Balikbayan box were 10 pieces of M4 rifle barrels, upper receivers, triggers as well as a suppressor (silencer).

Dela Rosa said a case was filed against the suspects for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.