Avsegroup records: 500% surge in airport passenger apprehension for 2015

Compared with the statistics last year, the number of passengers arrested for carrying bullets, firearms and ammunition in airports rose by nearly 500 percent, records from the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group (PNP Avsegroup) showed. 

 From January to November 1 this year, a total of 514 violations of the Republic Act no. 10591 or the comprehensive firearms and ammunition regulation act were recorded by the PNP Avsegroup. 

 This was a significant increase from reports of violation in 2014 when only 92 were apprehended for bringing firearms, ammunition, magazine, gun replica and gun parts. 

 The airport security officers and officials are in hot water over the alleged “tanim-bala” modus operandi, which allegedly involves airport staff planting bullets in the luggage of passengers to extort them afterwards for the dropping of charges. 

 However, Supt. Jeanne Panisan, PNP Avsegroup spokesperson, said on Monday that only 30 of the 514 individuals were filed with RA 10591 charges. 

 In 2014, police lodged 12 firearm-related complaints against violators. 

 Asked to what the Aviation police attribute the surge in cases, Panisan said this was due to the stricter implementation of the RA 10591.

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