By Ariel Fernandez
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Office For Transportation Security (OTS) personnel and the PNP Aviation Security Group intercepted 60 live ammunition and 17 magazines from several United States Marines, who were leaving for Japan via a Delta Airlines flight Friday morning.
The Americans were about to depart the country after participating in the Balikatan Exercises held in Zamboanga.
OTS personnel stopped the US servicemen after images of bullets and magazines emerged at the x-ray machine monitor.
OTS officials said some ammunition were also reportedly in the bag of one of the Marines, Daniel Barlow.
A member of the PNP Aviation Security Group said the lack of coordination between the Philippine government and representatives of the US Marines led to their brief detention.
The US servicemen were later allowed to board their flight after a US liaison officer was able to produce documents for the bullets and magazines.
Recently, the US Transportation Security Administration recently conducted a security audit at the NAIA and issued 16 recommendations that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) should address.
The TSA urged the Philippines to carry out effective security consistent with the security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).