12 in NAIA bullet incidents released

Grandma, 71, woman nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve individuals apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for possession of bullets have been ordered released from detention by prosecutors.

Even as the order for release was made, however, two more were caught with bullets at the airport, one of them a 71-year-old grandmother.

In separate resolutions obtained from the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday, Pasay City Prosecutor Nolasco Fernandez Jr. ordered the release of the 12 for lack of probable cause.

“The evidence submitted during inquest lacks such a finding or certification from the proper government agency, which is vital to determine if respondents violated the firearms and ammunition law,” Fernandez said.

He recommended further investigation to determine if the 12 should face criminal charges for illegal possession of ammunition.

Ordered released were Rufina Cruz, Melody Valdez, Marlou Espanola, Rowena Otic, Milagros Cadiente, Mildred Botog, Ma. Josephine Rabano, Shine Enola, Rey Salado, Ryan Rosales, Santiago Cabrera and Gloria Ortinez.

On the other hand, 71-year-old Antonina Agustin of Nueva Ecija was held for questioning by the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group for carrying 9mm and .38 caliber bullets in her luggage.

Agustin was about to meet her niece scheduled to arrive from Dubai when she was held for questioning by the police at the airport when the x-ray scan showed she was carrying the bullets inside her shoulder bag.

Agustin reportedly admitted carrying the bullets as amulets to protect her from sickness wherever she goes.

While Agustin was being investigated, 35-year-old Edina Sanchez was held for questioning after she was allegedly caught with a .45 caliber bullet.

Sanchez was bound for Bacolod carrying her newborn baby when she was caught carrying the bullet hidden in a baby carrier.

Downplaying attempts

Both Agustin and Sanchez were held for questioning yesterday as lawmakers from the House of Representatives conducted an ocular inspection of the airport facilities as part of their investigation of the alleged “tanim-bala” (bullet planting) incidents at the NAIA.

Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop and Magdalo party-list Rep. Francisco Acedillo were among the lawmakers who inspected the airport. They were accompanied by the screeners and personnel of the Office for Transport Security (OTS).

The OTS personnel denied allegations they were planting bullets in the luggage and bags of passengers to extort money.

The OTS also blamed the media for “overkill” in reporting the issue.

Journalists keep out

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado reportedly ordered airport reporters restricted from moving around the NAIA Terminal 3.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said the order against reporters was an attempt to downplay the alleged extortion.

He said the airport has always been accessible to duly accredited members of the NAIA Press Corps.

“Is it a coincidence that NAIA reporters are suddenly restricted from covering NAIA Terminal 3, or is it a deliberate attempt by airport authorities to suppress the media from making more reports about the shenanigans at the airport?” Nograles remarked.

Nograles and Sen. Francis Escudero are among the lawmakers calling for the resignation of Honrado along with Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano led the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Abaya and Honrado before the Office of the Ombudsman last week.

Abaya has shrugged off calls for his resignation over the bullet-planting controversy.

“Serving the government is a privilege. It’s not even a right so therefore, I can be removed any time,” Abaya said.

“The privilege to serve the people is there. It continuous to be a mere privilege for me,” he added.

No effect on APEC

As far as the administration is concerned, the controversial bullet-planting racket at the international airport will not affect the country’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next week.

“It is a very local issue. It’s because it’s only in this country that we use bullets as amulets, and this is, in fact, a reality,” Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., head of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, told a news briefing yesterday.

All APEC delegates will be exempt from screening processes for regular travelers.

“As far as the (APEC) economies are concerned, all of them are met and sent off. So the probability of (bullet planting) happening is almost – well, there is no absolute thing in this world, but almost zero – .001 percent,” Paynor said.

“I think it’s a local concern,” he stressed.

Jobs threatened

But as far as migrant overseas workers are concerned, tanim-bala can be a threat to their jobs.

Migrant worker Ortinez, who was among those caught with a supposed bullet in her luggage last week, will return to her job in Hong Kong after she was ordered freed.

“Nanay Gloria is very scared to set foot in our airport. But she has no choice because if she stays here longer, the employer, who is a single mom, might also change her mind about accepting her back,” OFW advocate Susan Ople said of Ortinez.

Ople said they appealed before the Department of Justice to dismiss Ortinez’s case so she could go back to her employer in Hong Kong.

“Regaining her job is a vital step toward her recovery from the trauma caused by the tanim-bala syndicate,” Ople said.

Ortinez earlier claimed an airport officer threatened to put her in handcuffs unless she signed a document that she said she was not able to read or understand.

Ople lamented Ortinez felt she would be safer in Hong Kong than in her homeland. –Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, Mayen Jaymalin, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan