The report confirms that the laglag bala scam is real, but it doesn’t exactly name the perpetrators of the deed.
“The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) special task force assigned to probe the “tanim-bala” (bullet planting) scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has confirmed the existence of the extortion scheme,” reports Kathlyn dela Cruz on ABS-CBNnews.com.
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas told reporters that “the NBI concluded that the tanim-bala scheme, which has been victimizing unsuspecting passengers at the airport, is being perpetrated by corrupt officers of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).”
“Based on the investigation conducted, the task force concludes that there was indeed an instance of the tanim/laglag-bala scheme. This had been perpetrated by corrupt OTS officers for the purpose of obtaining under duress financial consideration in lieu of non-filing of criminal charges from unsuspecting passengers,” Caparas stated.
The NBI report, dated Dec 8, 2015, has been submitted to Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
Caparas clarified that “the NBI report showed that there was no evidence to establish that an organized syndicate involving personnel of the OTS, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) was behind the scheme.”
According to Caparas, the NBI still wants to continue its investigation.
Thje report noted, though, that “the NBI report also does not verify if the culprits behind the tanim-bala scheme are the same people doing the deed over and over, he said. The probe also does not cover aspects of command responsibility, he added.”
Although the NBI is now in the process of filing charges related to the laglag bala scam, Caparas refused to divulge any names.
Caparas likewise noted that that “there are indeed cases of passengers deliberately bringing bullets into the airport. He appealed to the public to stop bringing prohibited items to the airport.”
Addressing the public, he said: “We also ask for the riding public to please cooperate with us. Let be responsible also. If we’re going to take a plane, ride a plane, again there are regulations, let’s follow the regulations naman. Let’s not make it difficult for our authorities to do their job.”
