Complaints filed vs. NAIA staff, cops, for laglag bala racket

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday filed criminal complaints against airport employees, including four aviation police officers, in connection with the alleged laglag bala extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Recommended for prosecution before the Department of Justice were Office of Transportation Security employees Maria Elma Cena and Marvin Garcia for allegedly planting evidence in violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Facing complaints for extortion, graft and violation of the law on the rights of detained persons are Chief Inspector Adriano Junio, SPO2 Rolando Clarin, SPO4 Ramon Bernardo, and SPO2 Romy Navarro, all of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.

The complaints were filed by the NBI on behalf of complainants Eloisa Zoleta and her son Lane White.

White was apprehended for allegedly carrying a bullet at the airport and was charged in court. His mother alleged that police officers tried to extort P30,000 to P80,000 from them.

In a transmittal letter to Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the NBI task force that investigated the matter said it was recommending that the six go through preliminary investigation before the DOJ.

Full force of the law

The DOJ earlier in the day confirmed the involvement of airport personnel in the alleged extortion scheme.

"The full force of the law would be brought upon you," Justice Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas said in a press briefing regarding the report submitted by NBI on the laglag bala racket.

Caparas said that while "corrupt" airport officials may be behind the scheme, "I believe, based on the data gathered, the NBI cannot rule that there is a syndicate behind these incidents."

The scheme involves the planting of live bullets in the bags of unsuspecting travelers by airport personnel for extortion purposes.

Caparas said the NBI task force interviewed resource individuals and went over documents on reported cases over the past five years. —NB, GMA News