THREE persons were arrested by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and 100 kilos of radioactive materials were seized from them.
In a press conference late Monday afternoon, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the arrest and seizure of the depleted uranium was part of a nationwide operation by the bureau to stanch the illicit trade of radioactive materials in violation of Republic Act 5207, otherwise known as the “Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968.”
Santiago said the operation started when representatives of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute met with NBI officials and sought assistance in investigating the illegal trade of depleted uranium.
Depleted uranium poses a serious threat to national security because it can be used as source material for nuclear weapons. Additionally, due to its radioactivity and toxicity, it can expose the people in close contact with it to health threats.
Upon receipt of the information, Santiago said he immediately formed a team to investigate and recover the dangerous materials, and arrest those behind the illegal activity.
“Investigation disclosed that the group of one Roy Cabesas Vistal offered for sale the said radioactive materials to the public by misrepresenting that the same are precious metals,” he said.
This prompted the NBI to conduct an entrapment operation on October 18 that led to the apprehension of Mae Vergel Zagala alias Madame Mae, and Arnel Gimpaya.
The NBI team also recovered 20 kilograms of metal bars and three kilograms of black powder, all positive for uranium-235 and uranium-238.
A separate NBI team and the PNRI also implemented a search warrant on Vistal’s residence in Pasay City that led to the seizure of three kilograms of black powder, rock material, small metal materials, and other contaminated items that all tested positive for uranium235 and uranium-238.
Santiago said the PNRI team also found out that Vistal’s residence is “heavily contaminated” with an undeterminable quantity of depleted uranium powder.
As part of PNRI’s safety protocols, the area was subjected to a decontamination procedure.
Vistal was eventually arrested on October 28 in Cagayan de Oro City.
The Cagayan de Oro operation also resulted in the seizure of several radioactive and contaminated materials, including a black pot weighing three to five kilograms that tested positive for uranium 238 and uranium-235.
“The team also detected severe surface contamination with uranium-238 and uranium-235 in the various areas of the subject residence, including the family vehicle,” the NBI chief said.
“Further investigation disclosed that Vistal’s group allegedly sourced the depleted uranium from Cebu,” he added.
On November 8 and 9, a joint team from the NBI, PNRI and the AFP Cebu Joint Task Force conducted another search and seizure operation in Mandaue City that led to the recovery of about 60 kilograms of block metals which tested positive for uranium-238 and uranium235.
Santiago said the arrested suspects were charged with violation of RA 5207 before the courts in Pasay and Cagayan de Oro cities.
The NBI only announced the operation yesterday so as not to jeopardize their operation against other members of Vistal’s group.
