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A journalist recalled how he was victimized by the alleged “tanim-bala” (also known as “laglag-bala”) syndicate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seven years ago.
Vito Barcelo of The Standard said he ran into trouble at an airport in China seven years ago when Chinese airport authorities found a bullet inside his hand-carried luggage.
Barcelo said a bullet from a .22-caliber pistol was found by Chinese authorities at the Guangzhou International Airport in his luggage as he was about to board a connecting flight to Beijing.
Barcelo was with other Filipino journalists and government officials in China upon the invitation of Chinese businessmen.
“We were bound for Beijing and at the airport security check when I was called to inspect my bag by the Guanzhou airport police. They showed me the monitor and pointed the object inserted inside my luggage,” Barcelo said.
Barcelo believed that the ammunition was planted in his luggage while he was still in Manila because he saw his bag slightly opened. He said he did not mind the opening and proceeded with his trip to China.
He suspects that airport security screeners in Manila did not harass him because he wore an airport media security access card and was with a group of Philippine journalists and government officials.
However, it brought him more inconvenience when Chinese authorities found the bullet.
A 10-year travel ban was initially imposed by the Chinese government on Barcelo. This was reduced to three years when a Chinese businessman helped him and appealed for its reduction.
Text: Raoul Esperas for ABS-CBNnews.com
Photo: John Paul Solis (WikiCommons)
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
