Three security screening personnel from the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) have been terminated effective immediately following an alleged “tanim-bala” incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced at a press conference on Monday.
The swift action comes after 69-year-old Ruth Adel reported being accused of carrying a bullet casing in her luggage as she and her family were preparing to board a flight to Vietnam on March 6.
In a detailed Facebook post that has since gone viral, Ms. Adel described a distressing encounter with security personnel who claimed an X-ray scan detected an “anting-anting” (amulet) in the form of a bullet in her bag.
“We will not stand for any abuse. Any abuse will be dealt with the same result and the same swift action from us, as mandated and as ordered to us by the President himself. We will not allow this to happen,” Dizon stated, as reported by GMA Integrated News.
According to Ms. Adel’s account, security personnel approached her family at the boarding gate as their Cebu Pacific flight was already boarding.
“They told me they found an ‘anting-anting‘ in my luggage,” she wrote in Filipino. “When I asked what that was, they said ‘a bullet shell’ while laughing.”
Ms. Adel described how officials insisted she return to the screening area despite the imminent departure of their flight. When she refused and requested an on-site inspection, officials called a supervisor who then changed the story, claiming the bullet was in her handbag, not her luggage.
After emptying her bag to prove no contraband was present, security personnel allegedly covered their name tags and walked away without apology.
The Transportation Secretary did not disclose the identities of the involved personnel.
OTS Administrator Arthur Velasco Bisnar acknowledged irregularities in how his personnel handled the situation.
“Ang mali naman na ginawa ay supposedly ang SOP ay doon mismo ‘yung physical check,” Bisnar explained, noting that security staff improperly chased the passengers to the boarding gate without certainty about which luggage was involved.
The incident has sparked concerns about a potential revival of the notorious “tanim-bala” or “laglag-bala” scheme that plagued NAIA during the previous decade.
The extortion tactic, which involved planting bullets in passengers’ luggage and then demanding money to avoid legal trouble, was a major issue during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III and prompted Senate investigations in 2015.
In response to the incident, the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), which operates the country’s main gateway, stated they are coordinating with OTS to reinforce security monitoring and strengthen proper screening procedures at the airport.
Secretary Dizon has directed OTS officials to review screening protocols and announced plans to establish a dedicated hotline where passengers can report concerning experiences at NAIA. He also issued a public apology to Ms. Adel and her family for the traumatic experience they endured.
In her social media post, Ms. Adel shared that the incident caused a spike in her blood pressure and continues to haunt her with nightmares. She emphasized her desire to prevent other travelers from enduring a similar ordeal.
While the investigation into whether an amulet was actually found in the passenger’s luggage continues, the DOTr has assured the public that stricter protocols will be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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