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BACOLOD City – There’s probable cause to file criminal charges in court against a suspected firearms smuggler whose seized shipment was allegedly intended to be used in the assassination of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
DOJ approved the filing of a criminal information against Bryan C. Ta-ala for violation of sections 101(a) and 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) which cover unlawful and prohibited importations.
The Justice’s 17-page resolution was dated Sept. 13, 2016.
“[B]ased on the above-mentioned provision of the law, the unlawful act of importation of Byran, [to] fraudulently bring into the country articles considered contrary to law without prior permit and authority, is a clear violation of the law. Convincing evidence leading to Bryan shows that he knowingly and intentionally smuggled firearms components, parts and accessories using ATLAS as courier service,” the resolution, penned by Assistant State Prosecutor Michael Vito Cruz read.
Ta-ala and aide Wilford Palma were arrested on Aug. 6 by operatives from the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bacolod City as they claimed a balikbayan box loaded with P4.5-million worth of smuggled gun parts, including the following:
* 35 trigger housing groups
* 10 barrels
* one unit rail
* one unit rail with barrel with flash suppressor
* 5 units butt stock assembly (gray)
* 10 units butt assembly (black)
* 60 upper receivers
* 5 quick detach scope mounts
* 15 spring locks, 4 sets took kit
* 2 sets beverage entry tools, and
* 2 pieces spare barrels.
The balikbayan box was shipped by ATLAS Shipping International, Inc., and arrived from the United States through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the shipment was discovered at the ATLAS warehouse after authorities received a tip about it in July.
The box bore the name of Leo Mendieta, with address at Doña Juliana Subdivision, Bacolod City.
Authorities allowed the box to be transported to Bacolod City so they could arrest its claimant.
Mendieta later turned out to be Ta-ala, based on the sworn statements of Palma. It was also Palma who revealed the details of the shipment.
The DOJ said Palma, with his meager pay, “has no capacity to engage in the gun smuggling-related activities” of his superior, Ta-ala, described as “the principal actor in the gun smuggling activities.”
“He (Palma) was merely a tool in facilitating the scheme of his employer Bryan,” the resolution read.
It was Palma who told authorities, and later media men in a press conference, that the shipment would be used to assassinate President Duterte.
The DOJ resolution was approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
The 17-page resolution was exclusively obtained by ABS-CBN News. (abs-cbnnews.com)
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