WANTED persons and those uttering bomb jokes in airports top the list of lawbreakers arrested by the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) since 2023, the Journal Group learned on Sunday.

“Apart from securing all Philippine airports against offensive and terroristic acts that threaten civil aviation, we are also helping enforce the law by going after wanted persons arriving or departing in the airports,” said PNP-ASG director Brigadier General Christopher N. Abrahano.

The PNP-ASG from January 2023 to date has arrested a total of 75 wanted persons, 16 of them facing criminal charges for estafa, 15 for for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004; 10 for theft; and 7 for rape under Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code.

The others arrested by the PNP-ASG were wanted for violation of RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, grave oral defamation, the bouncing check law, RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; and RA 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1988.

Others were facing criminal charges for malversation of public funds, perjury, physical injuries, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act, RA 1161 as amended by RA 8282 or the Social Security Law, direct assault to an agent of a person in authority, falsification of public documents and murder.

During the period, the PNP-ASG also arrested and charged 13 people for uttering bomb jokes.

Uttering this joke is a violation of Presidential Decree 1727 or the anti-bomb joke law as well as 30 others wanted for alarm and scandal, illegal entry, direct assault and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority, malicious mischief and violation of RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act.

The PNP-ASG also apprehended a total of 27 persons for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in airports during the same period.

Confiscated from the accused were 12 short firearms, 7 long firearms and 505 pieces of assorted live ammunition.

All 27 are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.

The PNP-ASG also assisted other law enforcement agencies in arresting 43 drug offenders who yielded more than P1.520 billion worth of illegal drugs including nearly P1.061 billion worth of smuggled shabu.

The rest are dried marijuana leaves, Ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis oil and Ketamine.

Latest anti-drug accomplishment involving the PNP-ASG took place at the PAIR-PAGS Center located along the NAIA Complex in Pasay City last April 17.

The day saw members of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and the Cargo Police Station of the Aviation Security Unit-National Capital Region arresting Chrstine Tiganes, a 28-year old resident of Quezon City after she claimed four declared machinery mufflers which in reality contained some 32.13 kilos of shabu worth P218,484,000.

An investigation is still ongoing to identify the shipper of the drugs from Harare, Zimbabwe.

From March 27 to April 18 alone, the PNP-ASG have also arrested two men for illegal possession of two handguns and 20 bullets; 1 bomb joker and 23 others wanted for estafa, violation of RAs 9262 and 7610, estafa, rape, murder and frustrated murder, falsification of public document and child abuse.