SEVERAL United States marines were stopped and questioned for bringing 60 live ammunition and 17 magazines inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Friday.

The US marines, who were part of the just concluded Balikatan exercises in Zamboanga, were leaving for Japan via Delta Airlines flight 180.





Personnel of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) stopped the US servicemen after images of bullets and magazines appeared at the x-ray machine monitor.

OTS officials said that the ammunition was reportedly found in one of the bags of a marine who was identified as Daniel Barlow.

An airport source said that lack of coordination between concerned agencies of the government and the liaison personnel on the part of the US marines was the cause.

Recently, the US Transportation Security Administration audited the security at the NAIA and gave 16 recommendations that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) should address.

The TSA urged the Philippines to carry out effective security consistent with the standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The marines were later allowed to board their flight after the US liaison personnel presented papers and documents for the bullets and magazines. BENJIE L. VERGARA