EDITORIAL - Another national embarrassment

Why would anyone carry a bullet in her purse? Especially after all the horror stories about bullets being planted in travelers’ bags at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for extortion purposes?

Bullets are not typical good luck charms for Filipinos, except perhaps among members of certain homicidal cults and politicians’ private armies. If a bullet is ever carried as a charm, it is usually pierced, with a band or string threaded through the hole. This is worn either as a bracelet or necklace. Responsible travel agents warn their clients that many countries prohibit the entry of such items.

These days travelers must be warned that carrying even a single bullet can get them into serious trouble even before they leave the NAIA. Despite wide media coverage of complaints that bullets are being planted in travelers’ bags and the owners forced to fork out money for their freedom, it’s amazing that NAIA personnel claim they still keep finding the banned item in the bags of departing passengers.

Yesterday a 64-year-old woman was stopped at the NAIA 1 from leaving for Singapore with her daughter after a bullet was allegedly found in a pocket of her shoulder bag. NAIA personnel denied it was another case of planting a bullet for a shakedown, pointing out that the pocket was zipped up and sewn shut. The woman, for her part, reportedly called the NAIA security officer a “planter” and a magician.

If the description of the bag pocket is accurate, this case could be a genuine violation of the prohibition on the transport of bullets. But because of recent developments and the state of the NAIA, public opinion is with the woman, who does not seem to be a stranger to international travel. After all the news reports about the “laglag bala” operations for extortion, one has to be incredibly stupid to stash a bullet in a carry-on bag that will pass through x-ray inspection, especially if the destination is Singapore.

The bullet planting has drawn the attention of the foreign press, perhaps because at least one of those complaining of being framed for a shakedown is a foreigner. There’s also a real danger that future victims will include people visiting the country for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month. Perhaps the approach of the APEC summit will finally lead to decisive action to stop this latest national embarrassment at the NAIA.