Malacañang: “Laglag bala” incident an isolated case

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma on Sunday assured the public that the “laglag bala" modus operandi should not be a cause of concern as the incident is an isolated case.

Coloma said the Office of Transport Security of the Department of Transport and Communications and the board of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) already conducted probe on the said modus operandi of planting bullets in passengers’ personal baggage, otherwise known as “tanim bala”, showing that the reported foreign guest’ case is isolated.

“Natunghayan ko rin iyong kanilang ulat, at sa kanilang pananaw, ito ay isang isolated case lamang at hindi naman dapat ikabahala,” Coloma said in an interview with DZRB.

Coloma assured that the government prioritizes the safety of passengers citing the duly response of the MIAA and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to prevent the cases by tightening security in all airports across the country.

According to Coloma the government will see to it that people responsible and involved behind the modus operandi will be punished by the law.

“Ang pangunahing isinasaalang-alang ng pamahalaan ay ang kaligtasan at katiwasayan ng mga pasahero sa lahat ng paliparan,” Coloma said.

Meanwhile Coloma said the government also gives the Congress freedom to decide on conducting another investigation regarding the case.

The “laglag bala” modus operandi became public after some foreign guests recently posted in social media that their baggage were “planted” with one or two live bullets and the security personnel asked money so they would get away with the “offense” and would be set free.

A 20-year old tourist identified as Michael White was detained for five days by the police for hiding bullet in his baggage which he claimed was not of his knowledge. The foreigner alleged that an airport security personnel offered settlement of P30.000.