Airport police deny involvement in alleged ‘laglag bala’ scheme

(Updated 5:40 p.m.) Airport police on Monday denied involvement in the so-called ‘laglag bala’ extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) supposedly targeting travellers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At a press conference in Camp Crame, Supt. Jeanne Panisan of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP AvSec) said that in the course of their investigation, they have yet to see proof of the supposed planting of bullets in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers.

“Sa imbestigasyon na ginagawa, wala pa kaming napatunayan na mayroong nagtatanim ng bala,” she said, stressing that airport police are not directly involved in the screening of luggage in airports.

“Ang nagdadala lang ng bagahe ay pasahero maliban na lang kung magre-request siya ng porter. After that ilalagay sa conveyor belt para sa screening kung saan siya (pasahero) rin ang magbubuhat ng bagahe maliban na lang kung may porter,” Panisan said.

Panisan said there is no chance for AvSec personnel to secretly put bullets on the baggage of passengers as they were not present during baggage screening. She said they are only called when screeners found something suspicious in the baggage.

“Kung nagkataon na ang operator [ng X-ray] may makitang ipinagbabawal na dalhin, pipicturan ng baggage inspector ang monitor, tatawagin o hihintayin na i-claim ng pasahero ang baggage at sasabihin na may nakita. Saka tatawagin ang PNP AvSec. Saka bubuksan yung baggage sa may inspection table at ang magbubukas ay pasahero. Kung positive na na-identify ay iimbitahan na ang pasahero sa opisina,” she said.

She said they are also not required in the screening area as their job is to provide police visibility and maintain peace and order within airport premises.

“Wala po kaming papel pagdating sa security screening. Hindi kami naglalagay ng bagahe sa X-ray. Tinatawag lang kami pag may violation sa procedure,” Panisan said.

Panisan added that the distance from the door of the departure area to the X-ray machine — between which a bullet could be planted on the luggage — is only five to 15 meters.

“Ang puwede lang humawak ng bagahe [ay] 'yung pasahero at porter, wala nang iba. Siya rin ng may dala ng bagahe. Five to 10 meters lang ang layo kaya paano matataniman ng bala,” she said.

Despite her pronouncement, Panisan still advised passengers to check their baggage thoroughly to avoid being caught with a bullet, which she said are oftentimes carried as amulets.

"With all due respect po sa mga kababayan natin, malalim po talaga iyung paniniwala natin sa amulet, sa agimat," she said.

“Minsan po kasi nanghihiram tayo ng bag, hindi natin na-check mabuti may bala palang nakatago doon. Kaya ang dapat gawin check-in mabuti at siguraduhing kayo mismo ang maglalagay ng mga gamit nyo,” she added.

Apprehensions

At the same press briefing, Panisan said that in 2012, they recorded 20 apprehensions while 21 were arrested in 2013.

From January to November this year, the PNP AvSec group apprehended 30 people for having bullets in their luggage, an increase from only 12 incidents for the same period last year.

The arrests in 2015 yielded 514 ammunition, 24 magazines, 20 firearms, 139 accessories or parts of firearms, and 20 replica.

The figures were higher than last year where 92 ammunition were intercepted, 44 magazines, eight firearms, and three accessories or parts of firearms.

Panisan said they are ready to face investigation regarding the matter. — with Saleema Refran/KBK/RSJ, GMA News