Missing Cessna plane found in Cagayan—CAAP

By Joel E. Zurbano

SEARCHERS have found the Cessna 152 plane that went missing in Cagayan province on Tuesday, but authorities recanted an earlier statement that the bodies of the pilot and his student were found dead.

“The Cessna 152 training aircraft (RP-C8958) that was reported missing yesterday, 1 August 2023, has been found by the search team at barangay Salvacion, Luna, Apayao today, 2 August 2023,” said Eric Apolonio, spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Apolonio, however, confirmed the plane’s wreckage was located. Meanwhile, the CAAP said it has suspended operations of the Echo Air, owner of the ill-fated plane.

CAAP investigators have been dispatched to conduct a probe of the accident following retrieval of the fatalities’ remains.

In Brief

MMDA: Stay out of EDSA bus lane

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has warned motorists and motorcycle riders to stay out of the EDSA Bus Carousel Lane.

“The MMDA strongly warns private motorists and motorcycle riders not to pass through the EDSA Bus Carousel Lane. This is not a fast lane, but only for passenger buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles that respond to emergencies,” the agency stated in its advisory.

The advisory was issued following reports that another accident involving a motorcycle rider happened on the southbound lane of EDSA-Ortigas.

The accident caused heavy traffic along EDSA.

“For motorcyclists, it is good to wear safety gear and obey traffic laws to avoid accidents,” the MMDA stated.

Two months ago, a motorcycle rider died after he figured in a hitand-run incident at the southbound bus lane of EDSA Shaw Blvd.

“It is with profound sadness that this incident happened. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the rider,” said MMDA chairman Romando Artes. Joel

E. Zurbano

Agents seize P45-m shabu in Pasay City

GOVERNMENT agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized a shipment of shabu worth more than P45 million from Africa.

A composite team from the Bureau of Customs - Port of NAIA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) seized the parcel from a bonded warehouse in Pasay City.

The contraband was consigned to one Wilbert Dee, a resident of 289 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City and ostensibly sent by Michael Mobida of 28 Krombek Street, Van Reibeeck BIR, Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Aside from the 6.7 kilos of shabu, the authorities also found six plastic bags of nuts and three pouches of pumpkin seeds inside the parcel.

The shipment went through the initial inspection using the X-ray machine and placed under 100 percent physical examination by Customs examiners resulting in the discovery of the prohibited substance.

Joel E. Zurbano

Smuggled frogs

Seized at NAIA

GOVERNMENT agents on Wednesday confiscated a shipment of exotic wildlife at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay.

The shipment, falsely declared as “accessories” consisted of five heads of Pacman frogs from Malaysia.

The seized shipment has an estimated market value of more than P80,000 and consigned to an addressee in San Pedro Laguna.

“The unlawful trading of exotic wildlife is a serious offense and a direct violation of both Republic Act (RA) No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and RA No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” NAIA district collector Yasmin Mapa said.

Mapa cited the recent interception of the illegal wildlife shipment adds to BOC-NAIA’s track record in combatting wildlife trafficking. Vito