MANILA – A Chinese woman, who has been in the Philippines since 1985, and five others face criminal charges of illegal possession of high-powered firearms and explosives.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran presented the suspect Ke Be I, alias Lily Ong, to reporters on Thursday.
Answering media questions in broken Filipino, Ong said she was the general manager of a poultry farm where the undocumented guns were recovered by agents of the NBI Special Action Unit (SAU).
Gierran said the unit was served a search warrant issued by Manila Executive Judge Thelma Bunye Medina.
NBI spokesman, lawyer Ferdinand Lavin, said forensic investigation will be undertaken on the six VHF-UHF two-way radio transmitters, one M203 grenade launcher, four M653 baby armalite rifles, two grenades, five 12-gauge shotguns, three pistols (one caliber .45, one caliber .38, and one 9-mm.), and eight cellular phones.
Lavin added that they will investigate other possible cases involving the suspects.
Aside from Ong, also arrested were Brandy Solinap, Victor dela Cruz, Bi-Lian Ke, Diosdado Bohol, and Ke Quiao alias Sam Jany.
They were arrested on a sprawling farm in Bo. Road, Pantay Buhangin, Barangay Dalig, Teresa, Rizal for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Act.
Bohol, a Samar native, was in possession of another shotgun and was found in a small hut on top of a hill behind the main house.
Ke Quiao Li, alias Sam Jany, and Ong were found inside the main house.
Links to “Red October”
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, said they have yet to determine whether the incident is connected to the “Red October” plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.
“As of this time, wala po tayong nakukuhang information na ganyan na merong involved kahit na isang [police officer] (We have not received any information on whether a police officer is involved)," Albayalde said in a radio interview.
He has also ordered a probe into allegations that some police officers have received protection money from Ong.
Ong reportedly said she gives PHP8,000 to each police officer every month for protection from kidnappers.
“Kausap ko yung RD (Regional Director of PNP Calabarzon, Chief Supt. Edward Carranza) pinapaimbestigahan ko na po yan na yung nga yung sinasabing protection money, kung talagang meron man at yung mga involved na pulis dahil meron po yatang listahan na binigay yung Lily Ong (I spoke with the RD and I already ordered an investigation on the matter about protection money, if it really exists and if there are policemen involved because Lily Ong reportedly gave a list of those policemen),” Albayalde said in radio interview.
He said some policemen may have agreed to protect Ong as a "sideline" to augment their income, which is illegal. (With reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
