By Ronron
January 5, 2008
Police seized late Friday evening three trucks in Sorsogon province that contained several pieces of explosive materials.
But after finding out that it had legal papers for its purchase and shipment, the items were released before noon Saturday, a police official said.
The trucks were held at around 9:42 pm Friday at a joint police and Army checkpoint in Barangay Gadgaron in Matnog town after the drivers failed to show authenticated copies of the items’ purchase and transport permits, said town police commander Chief Insp. Jesus Callada.
During a check inside the trucks, Callada said they found the following items: 1,300 cases of dynamites (each case has 130 dynamite sticks); 50,000 blasting caps; 162,600 meters of detonating cord; 162,600 pieces of safety fuse; 34,000 connectors; 4,244 fuse lighters; 2,320 timers; and, 97,000 kilos of ammonium nitrate.
Callada said they held the shipment because they wanted to ensure that the photocopied permits shown by the three drivers and their escort from the Civil Security Group (CSG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City, identified as PO3 Nathaniel Villarta, are authentic.
Thus, on Saturday morning, after a confirmation from Chief Supt. Florencio Caccam, Jr., the chief of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Division (FED), that the shipment has his authority, the trucks were allowed to leave at around 11 am, said Callada.
“We were just doing our job because as you know, we have a lot of bombing incidents in the country,” Callada said.
The official disclosed that the shipment came from Nitro-Asia in Balanag City, Bataan, and was bound for PHILSAGA Mining Corporation in Agusan del Sur, and Pacific Cement Corporation in Surigao City.
He said the trucks left Bataan City Thursday and were supposed to take a cargo vessel in Matnog to reach their respective destination.
“They said those items were to be used for mining operations,” Callada said./DMS
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