MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / May 7, 2013) – The Philippines has warned Filipino travelers against carrying devices and other articles which are classified as “arms” by the domestic laws in their countries of destination or transit.
The warning comes after a recent spate in arrests of Filipino nationals who have been found carrying such devices and articles while traveling in or transiting India and Hong Kong.
The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi reported that a Filipino was apprehended for carrying ammunition in a checked-in luggage while on a stop-over in Mumbai.
The unnamed Filipino is now facing criminal charges under the Indian Arms Act, which treats the act of carrying, without license, any live ammunition, spent cartridges, decommissioned ammunition or any kind of gun or propulsion instrument as a criminal offense. Violations of the Indian Arms Act could fetch a minimum penalty of four-year imprisonment.
The Embassy stressed that any person caught carrying such articles without the necessary licenses shall not be absolved or acquitted of the charges by way of explaining the articles’ use as talismans, amulets or charms.
Just recently, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong issued an advisory regarding the prohibition on bringing stunning devices and spear guns or harpoons when traveling to or through Hong Kong’s ports. These devices are classified as “arms” under the territory’s Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance.
According to the Ordinance, persons found to be in possession of such arms without a license can be held liable to a fine of HKS 100,000 or approximately $13,333 and can be meted a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
The Consulate reported that 14 Filipino nationals were arrested in violation of the ordinance in the first quarter of this year alone. Police investigations revealed that the Filipinos purchased the stunning devices in places prior to their travel to Hong Kong and were either en route to the territory or were transiting through the city’s international airport.
As a general rule, all hand-carried and checked-in luggage, including those of transiting passengers, are subjected to security screening in airport terminals. Any of the prohibited devices or articles found in a luggage can be used as grounds to arrest the person in possession of such devices or articles.
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