NAIA personnel in ‘laglag bala’ extort modus suspended

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA0 personnel who were allegedly part of the “laglag bala” extortion racket have been suspended following the investigation sparked by complaints from passengers who fell victim to the illegal scheme.

A report on "Unang Balita" said a bag inspector and an X-ray machine operator have been suspended from airport duty starting Monday, a week after the "laglag bala" scheme was discovered following complaints from passengers.

One victim, visiting tourist Lane Michael White, a 20-year-old US citizen, said an Office of Transportation Security officer asked P30,000 from him after bullets were found in his luggage. When he declined to pay, he was detained for six days at the police aviation custodial in NAIA Terminal 1.

White, who claimed the bullets were planted in his luggage, was supposed to go to Palawan on September 12.

This was followed by another claim made public through a Facebook post, which states how a similar incident happened to Filipino-American Rhed Austria de Guzman.

According to lawyer Gabby Concepcion, unauthorized possession of bullets and live ammunition is against Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act.

Meanwhile, if the extortion scheme is proven true, the suspects may face a criminal case for extortion, administrative cases for misconduct in service that may result in termination, and reclusion perpetua or lifetime imprisonment as penalty. —Bianca Rose Dabu/KBK, GMA News