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)

After APEC, Seaman Going to the US nabbed for bullet possession in NAIA (Tanim Bala Scam)

MANILA - Business as usual in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), hours after the last group of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates left the country, a departing overseas Filipino worker was caught on Friday evening at the airport for alleged possession of a bullet.

Mark Angelo Yunida, a seaman bound for San Francisco, California, managed to pass through the initial security check at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 without problem. However, after getting clearance from the immigration counter, a bullet for a 9mm caliber pistol was found with his wallet as he was passing through the final security check.

Yunida denied owning the ammunition and claimed that an unidentified person bumped him right after he checked in at the airline counter.

Charges were formally filed by airport authorities today at the Pasay Prosecutor's Office against Yunida.

source

Fox News and other Foreign News Reported about NAIA Manila Airport Bullet Planting Scam; Naia syndicate confirmed

WATCH: The Philippines may get mad at me, but this airport bullet planting scam deserves to be called out! [please...
Posted by Greta Van Susteren on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren who offended Thailand by saying it is “the lamest country of the day,” has set her sights on another Asian country and this time it's the Philippines.  She called out the NAIA Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) airport personnel for being allegedly involve in the Bullet Planting (laglag bala) extortion scheme



The extortion scam happens when airport employees plant bullets in the bags of unsuspecting international travelers, once they go through X-Ray scan obviously they will get flagged. Then the airport security will let them choose go to jail or “pay a fine.”

The Facebook video has now been viewed more than 4.6 million times, it has more than 176,000 shares.

A former criminal defense and civil trial lawyer, Susteren was named Forbes' 99th most powerful woman in the world in September.


Here's another video of Greta about the scam:

WATCH: Another night going after the Philippines! What will it take to protect innocent travelers? If you haven't already liked my Facebook page, do so now so you'll never miss an update on this story!
Posted by Greta Van Susteren on Thursday, November 5, 2015

Another news this time in Japan, reported the NAIA Manila Airport Bullet Planting Scam complete with reenactment which is somewhat funny but embarrassing towards the NAIA staff. The video was shared by Facebook user Shinjoy Noisap Martinez.

Nakakahiya n tlga ang bansang pilipinas balitang balita n pati dto sa japan ang isyu ng laglag bala n yan.tlagang iminuwestra pa kung paano ang ginagawang pambbiktima sa loob ng airport.
Posted by Shinjoy Noisap Martinez on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Meanwhile, initial findings by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation reveal that some porters identify potential victims of the “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) scam and accomplices in the security and immigration services take over from them inside the four terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

UN Issue Warnings to Staff against bullet planting scam at NAIA Manila Airport

The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) released a memo to staff members warning them of the "tanim-bala" (bullet-planting scam) scheme that are allegedly carried out by Aiport Security to extort money from passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

They also advised their staff members to secure their bags by wrapping them in plastic.

"Staff members are advised to keep your luggage with you, lock your luggage, and consider wrapping your luggage in plastic as an extra security measure," the UNDSS said in a statement Tuesday.

The tanim-bala (bullet planting) scam, has already victimized hundred of ordinary travelers, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) as well as foreigners. The passenger if caught will then be forced to choose between facing an investigation or paying a bribe.

The advisory was first reported by Floyd Whaley, a senior correspondent of The New York Times, in his Twitter account.

“United Nations advises staff using Manila airport to ‘keep your luggage with you, lock your luggage, and consider wrapping your luggage,’” Whaley said in his tweet.

Whaley eventually posted a copy of the internal memo from the UN Department of Safety and Security (undss.radioroom@undp.org) with the subject “SECURITY ADVISORY: Naia-Bullets in luggage.”

United Nations advises staff using Manila airport to "keep your luggage with you, lock your luggage, and consider wrapping your luggage".

— Floyd Whaley (@FloydWhaley) November 3, 2015

People Caught with Bullets in bags in NAIA increase by 775% in 2015

MANILA, Philippines — The number of people arrested for having bullets in bags at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have increased more than 775% in 2015.
(NAIA Manila Airport Bullet Planting Scam Rise 775% in 2015)

Those apprehended with bullets in their luggage has increased up to a staggering 775% this year, from only 12 incidents in 2014 to 105 cases from January to November this year, data from the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group showed. But still the airport police aren’t convinced there’s an extortion racket behind it.

In a press briefing at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters on Monday, Supt. Jeanne Panisan, spokesman of the police unit at the airport, the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup), said that for the whole of 2014, the Avsegroup made only 12 apprehensions for illegal possession of ammunition. From January to November 2015, however, the Avsegroup already made 30 apprehensions for the offense.

Asked for the reason behind the sudden leap in numbers, Panisan shared her “impression” that security screeners, from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), have stepped up their duties since the implementation of the new Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, approved in 2013.

Under the updated law, possession of a single live bullet could merit an P80,000 bail, P200,000 if the suspect was a foreigner, Panisan said.

Panisan dismissed allegations that an airport-based “syndicate” has been operating a “laglag bala” (planting of bullets) extortion racket. “Based on our investigation [before], it was never proven. No one was ever implicated,” Panisan said.

Panisan explained OTS personnel under the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) have been tasked to screen passengers’ baggage. “We [the PNP Avsegroup] have no part in the actual security screening….[The Avsegroup] are only called in if there is a [discovered] violation of procedures, such as the bringing in of bullets, guns, or explosives,” Panisan said.

Based on the testimony and evidence furnished by the OTS security screeners, the Avsegroup apprehends the suspect and files the complaint in the Pasay prosecutor’s office.

From the passengers’ entry into the airport and as they pass through security screenings, only the passengers themselves carry their own baggage, unless they hire porters, according to Panisan. Even after the security officers see something suspicious in the X-ray, and take a screenshot of it, they will still the Avsegroup first before having the bag opened by the passengers themselves.  “How can you plant a bullet then?” Panisan said, rhetorically, in Filipino.

Asked why passengers would keep bringing the contraband to the airport, Panisan surmised: “With all due respect to our countrymen, our belief in amulets go deep.”

Panisan, however, clarified that the Avsegroup would only file a criminal complaint against those in possession of a “complete” or live bullet. Empty shells — which are usually the ones turned into amulets — only get confiscated and “documented.”

Panisan advised: “When you travel, be sure you’re the ones who pack your bags. It’s common to borrow bags….but ensure that it is empty.” She suggested that passengers wrap or lock their bags “so there would be no reason to say a bullet had been planted.”

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson, explained that under the Firearms law, “intention [for the ammunition possession] does not matter.”

“[The intention] is not taken into consideration. The mere possession of prohibited item is already a violation of the law. Of course we sympathize with countrymen who get caught, but the law is strict,” Mayor said.

“Of course, if there are those in our group who violated [laws], we will welcome an investigation. Our intention is the same. Our org has been affected. We appeal to public, let us not prejudge. Let us wait for investigation that will be conducted. We want the truth to come out so we will know who is the culprit,” Mayor said.

Mayor, in a phone interview, added that there were legal “remedies” also available to those who were victimized by the supposed extortion scam. “If you think you’re aggrieved, you can file a case against the person who did it,” the police spokesperson said. “Assuming you can identify the person, file a complaint for planting of evidence…or civil damages if you missed your flight.”

But Mayor also reminded: “You must be able to establish sufficient evidence” for such complaints.

This will scam will surely hit tourism in the Philippines it is now reported on major news like:
BBC
Dailymail 
CNN
HKFP