MANILA - Airport authorities on Tuesday intercepted from a departing passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 a dismantled .45-caliber firearm intentionally concealed inside a PlayStation 4 console box.

Undersecretary Art Evangelista, administrator of the Office of the Transport Security, disclosed to ABS-CBN that airport security screeners Manny Louie Oliva and Carlo Mendoza were on duty at Gate 6 entrance of the departure area when they noticed on the x-ray monitor an unknown image resembling a firearm within a box.

He said the firearm was placed in a backpack owned by Verlyn Tadeo Valenciano, 36 years old, a businessman from Subic, Zambales.

Valenciano was a departing passenger of Philippine Airlines flight PR 2543 bound for Dumaguete.

A search of the bag done in the presence of Valenciano yielded a PlayStation console box. But when examined further, a dismantled firearm wrapped in carbon paper was found.

According to Evangelista, Valenciano wrapped the firearm in carbon paper hoping that the x-ray machine would not detect it.

For failing to present any permit to carry, Valenciano will be facing a complaint for illegal possession of firearms.

Airport authorities are also verifying the identity and profile of Valenciano.