The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has fired three security employees from the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) after they were accused of being involved in the “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) scheme at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
What Happened?
On March 6, a 69-year-old woman named Ruth Adel was traveling with her family to Vietnam. Just as they were about to board their flight, airport security stopped them. The officers claimed they saw something suspicious in an x-ray scan of their luggage. They said it looked like an “anting-anting” or a lucky charm in the form of a bullet casing.
However, when they physically checked the bag, they found nothing! The woman and her family were shocked and almost missed their flight because of the false accusation.
Government Takes Action
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon spoke at a press conference on Monday and made an important announcement. He said that the three employees accused of being involved in the scam were fired immediately.
“We will not tolerate any abuse,” Dizon stated. “The President has ordered us to take swift action. This kind of incident will not be allowed.”
Dizon also instructed OTS officials to investigate how the incident happened and review security procedures to prevent such scams from occurring again. He promised that proper administrative charges would be filed against the accused employees if they were found guilty.
Mistakes by Airport Security
OTS administrator Arthur Velasco Bisnar explained what went wrong. He said that airport staff claimed they saw something that looked like a bullet on the x-ray scan, but the passenger quickly grabbed her bag.
However, security personnel made a mistake by not conducting the physical check right at the screening area. Instead, they chased the passenger all the way to the boarding gate, without being sure which passenger or which bag was actually involved.
Senator Grace Poe Speaks Out
Senator Grace Poe, who is part of the Senate public services committee, welcomed the decision to fire the employees. However, she also warned that the government must make sure this scam does not return.
“Passengers should not have to experience fear and stress because of dishonest airport workers,” she said. “The investigation must continue, and the 69-year-old victim should be given help.”
What is ‘Tanim-Bala’?
‘Tanim-bala,’ also known as ‘laglag-bala,’ is a scam where dishonest airport staff plant bullets in passengers’ bags and then accuse them of carrying illegal items. Victims are often pressured to pay bribes to avoid getting in trouble.
This scam became a huge issue back in 2015 during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III. It was so serious that the Senate had to investigate it. Now, people are worried that it might be making a comeback.
Airport Security to Be Improved
The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the company that operates the airport, said they are working closely with the OTS to improve security. Their goal is to make sure all passengers feel safe when traveling.
NNIC promised to strengthen security monitoring, improve screening procedures, and make airport operations more transparent to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
“We are committed to ensuring that all travelers have a safe and smooth experience at the airport,” NNIC stated.
Passengers Encouraged to Report Issues
To make sure passengers are protected, the DOTr announced that they will set up a special hotline where travelers can report any problems they experience at NAIA. This will help the government respond quickly to any cases of abuse or unfair treatment.
Final Thoughts
The firing of the three employees shows that the government is serious about stopping airport scams. However, many travelers are still worried. Will ‘tanim-bala’ finally disappear for good, or will it come back again? Only time will tell, but for now, officials are promising stricter security and better protection for passengers.
