Authorities probing 'laglag bala' extort modus at NAIA

Airport authorities are investigating the “laglag bala” modus operandi at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following recent complaints from passengers who fell victim to the extortion scheme, a report from GMA's “24 Oras” said Wednesday.

 

“The investigation is ongoing as to the two security screening officers involved. 'Yung isa doon was a baggage inspector, the other one was an x-ray operator,” NAIA spokesman David de Castro said.

 

“Never namin ipagsasa walang bahala [ang ganitong insidente] lalo na we cater to these passengers lalo na at karamihan dito ay turista we would want to make sure na lahat sila ay secure naman whenever they transit through the airport,” he added.

 

The investigation comes after complaints from NAIA passengers who claimed to be victimized in the modus operandi where a bullet is slipped into the passenger's baggage to start an extortion attempt.

 

One of the alleged victims, 20-year-old US citizen Lane Michael White said he was supposed to go to Palawan last September 12 when he was victimized.

 

White claimed that an Office of Transportation Security officer asked him for P30,000 to let the incident slide but he declined and was detained in the police aviation custodial in NAIA terminal 1. 

 

“Somebody put a bullet inside my bag and because of that I've had to spend six days and five nights here. Whole bunch of ants, mosquitos, bugs. The bathroom was pretty atrocious,” he said.

 

“Kung dala po namin yun paano po dumaan ng Jackson Ville Airport which is a military airport?” White's stepmom Iloisa said.

 

Meanwhile, Filipino-American Rhed Austria de Guzman also complained of a similar incident which she posted on Facebook.

 

In her post she said NAIA terminal 2 staff asked her for a P500 bribe after two bullets were found in her baggage following the x-ray procedure.

 

De Guzman denied that the bullets were hers but still gave the NAIA staff the bribe money just to get it done over with.

 

The staff in question have already been relieved of duty and now under investigation.

 

“Basta ang stand namin dito pag nagkamali ang tauhan namin talagang papatawan natin ng kaparusahan yan,” OTS Public Affairs OIC Jonathan Maliwat said.  — Andrei Medina/ELR, GMA News