Gun raps recommended vs. alleged smuggler Bigcas

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the filing of a criminal case against controversial car dealer Lynard Allan Bigcas, whose name hit national headlines in 2011 after a Hollywood screenwriter's missing motorcycle was found in his possession.

The case, however, was connected with the alleged unlicensed firearms and ammunition found in his possession during a raid on his property in Bukidnon in May 2011.

In a four-page resolution approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the DOJ found enough evidence against Bigcas for alleged violation of Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1866 as amended by Republic Act No. 8294, or Illegal possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunitions or exposives.

In its resolution, the DOJ said "there was probable cause that [Bigcas] had been unlawfully possessing the subject ammunitions."

"[A] private individual may be authorized to possess one long and one short firearm at the same time. But long firearm, such an M16 rifle, is generally allowed only for military men," the resolution read

The case would be filed with the Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro City.

The raid on Bigcas' property, conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), was prompted by the complaint of Hollywood screenwriter Skip Woods, whose stolen Martin Brothers Harley Davidson motorcycle was found by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the Philippines.

The NBI raid yielded luxury vehicles, high-powered firearms and a "black book" that listed names of Mindanao local government officials as Bigcas' alleged clients.

Bigcas, at a congressional hearing he attended in May 2011, claimed that the names on the list were people who purchased motorcycle parts from him. He also denied being a car smuggler, although he failed to provide authorities with a deed of sale for Woods' motorbike.

Bigcas also admitted during the probe that he broke down, shipped and sold motorcycle parts in balikbayan boxes to the Philippines, but denied having intention to smuggle the items to the country.

Bigcas is currently facing a separate complaint of smuggling filed by the Bureau of Customs before the City Prosecutor's Office of Cagayan de Oro. He is out on bail.

The Bureau of Immigration, an attached agency of the DOJ, has included Bigcas on its watch list to prevent him from leaving the Philippines pending the resolution of his case. — Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News