Bullet Planting Scam: Elderly Couple Held in the Airport After live Bullet Found in Bag

The bullet planting scam is back in Manila Airport (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), an elderly couple were held and stopped from boarding their flight going to Los Angeles, California when airport security personnel discovered a live bullet in their baggage.

The two senior citizer were 75 years old Salvacion Cortabista her 78-year-old husband Esteban, they were stopped at the NAIA 1 when the airport x-ray shows a .38-caliber bullet in her hand-carry bag. The couple looked dazed and confuse about what was happening they were suppose to visit their daughter based in San Diego, California.

According to Cortabista’s daughter Emy, they had thouroughly checked her mother’s bag 3x before they went to NAIA, turning it inside-out and shaking it to rid it of any unwanted materials.

“Hindi ko sukat akalain na mangyayari sa amin ito. Wala naman kaming ganyan…bala. Magsasaka lang kami, papaano kami magkakaroon ng bala (I never imagined this would happen to us. We don’t have that kind of thing, a bullet. We’re just farmers, so how could we have a bullet)?” said Esteban, who decided to cancel their US visit.

In the CCTV footage shown to media by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), Salvacion was seen beeing pushed in a wheelchair in the airport, while her husband is seen carrying her shoulder bag. The husband also was the one to place her bag into the first x-ray machine located at the NAIA 1 entrance. It was apparent that nothing irregular was detected as they were allowed to proceed to the check-in counters in the departure area.

The senior citizen couple was also able to check in their baggage at the Korean Air counter before 12 noon and proceeded to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) counter.

It was after they were cleared at the BI counter that the next x-ray machine sounded off and detected the bullet in Salvacion’s shoulder bag.

Their checked in baggage were stored at the Korean Air's office, pending investigation and filing of appropriate charges by airport authorities.

The couple said, "Mga ordinaryo lang po kaming magsasaka sa Boso Boso, Antipolo. Wala naman po kaming pera. Bakit kami naman po ang bibiktimahin ng tanim-bala dito sa airport?."  (We are just ordinary farmers based in Boso Boso Antipolo, we don't have money why would they victimized us with their bullet planting scam in the airport)

Bullet Planting in NAIA Continuous, 3 passengers Caught with Bullets

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Francisco Tatad niece, was suppose to board her flight but she was put on hold along with an American and a 74-year-old grandmother when the X-ray screener found bullets in their belongings while undergoing security check at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

NAIA personnel said Rosanna Tatad, 31, was found with a bullet in her shoulder bag last December 13, 2015. Security screening officer Anna Margarita Repario said she saw an image of ammunition after Tatad’s bag passed through the X-ray scanner.

The bullet was found after Repario inspected the bag in the presence of Tatad and Senior Police Officer 1 Allan Sonio.

Tatad, of Congressional Model Subdivision, Camarin, Caloocan City, said that she did not own the bullet. She was subjected to inquest and charged with violation of Republic Act 10591.

American Joseph Ocasiones, 35, was also held when a 9mm caliber bullet was found in his trolley bag last Tuesday December 15, 2015. He was bound for San Francisco, USA with his 5 year old daughter.

NAIA police said X-ray screening officer Rica Verano saw the image of the bullet in the trolley bag of Ocasiones. She called Police Officer 3 Robinson Fernandez, the duty officer. Ocasiones was arrested and detained at the police jail at the airport.

He denied owning the bullet found in his bag. “Why would I carry ammunition when I know that it’s prohibited?” he said.

“I read and saw news from newspapers and on TV that many passengers were caught having bullets in their belongings. “I remember when I alighted from the car, I noticed a group of people that included porters blocked my path and the next thing I know, I was arrested for the bullet planted in my baggage.”

Los Angeles-bound grandmother Araceli Fortuna was allegedly found carrying two caliber .45 bullets in her luggage.

Pasay City prosecutors ordered the immediate release of Tatad, Ocasiones and Fortuna after investigation and they were able to continue with their journey.

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