Extortion or demolition

Budol-budol, dugo-dugo, laglag-barya, salisi, pasa-load, goldbar, pyramid and now laglag-bala, palit-bala, or tanim bala, susmariosep, the appalling ingenuity of the Filipino criminal mind. The latest extortion racket by a “few” unscrupulous airport personnel planting bullets in the luggage of unsuspecting travelers is already causing our country embarrassment in the international arena. I was in Bangkok last week and saw for myself passengers en route to the Philippines having their luggage wrapped in plastic before checking in. What an embarrassment for the country! What perfect timing too for this issue to come out just before the APEC summit in Manila.

But what is even more embarrassing is how our officials (not to mention the President himself) are handling this problem. Some are downplaying it by resorting to percentages of victims over the total number of passengers (only 1,510 people or 0.004 percent of the 32.4 million passengers who passed through the four terminals of the NAIA have been apprehended for bringing bullets according to DOTC Sec. Abaya), or suggesting that it is a cheap politically-motivated stunt to discredit the administration (a demolition job); some are irresponsibly blowing it out of proportion by insinuating even legitimate arrests as part of the extortion scheme; and some are evidently just riding on the publicity with premature statement of opinions or public offers of assistance.

DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya said that these cases have been blown out of proportion. He reminds the public that when allegation cast aspersion on all, it is not far-fetched to think that some of those tasked with security will suffer from lower morale. Abaya also assured the public that officials are taking extra measures to ensure no such modus will happen. Installing additional CCTV cameras and imposing a “no hands” policy for baggage inspectors are among them.

While some incidents appear to involve persons who carried bullets as talismans (anting-anting) or souvenirs, or who used unchecked borrowed bags, the latest confirmation, allegedly by the NBI, of the existence of a “tanim-bala” syndicate preying on OFWs and the elderly, pictures a very serious threat to the travelling public. No less than the United Nations Organization cautioned its staff in handling their luggage while in the Philippines. Sooner or later, travel advisories will be issued discouraging foreign tourists from visiting our country simply because of a teensy-weensy extortionist’s bullet waiting to be planted. How pathetic!

It is alarming to know that this problem has been going on for the past two to three years now and that these cases were immediately settled. It seems that the alleged syndicate behind the “tanim-bala” fiasco has stepped up its operations and has now become bolder. I am too scared to know what happens inside the cargo hold of the airport where only the employees of airline companies are allowed. I don’t understand why the highest authority in charge of the airport cannot cleanse the whole security group and replace them with another group. This can be an immediate response to the problem.

If we look at the recent profiles of the victims, most of them are ordinary people: a wheelchair-bound balikbayan who said she had to pay P500 to the airport security personnel so that she can leave the country; an American tourist who also claimed to be victimized by the same scheme; a long-time Hong Kong OFW; and a mother on her way to watch her son’s game in Singapore.

How many more OFWs will be unjustly barred from leaving the country to earn dollars abroad for remittance to their family in need? How much longer will the families of honest porters, who are now avoided like lepers, wallow in hunger? Should we wait for the economy to suffer before we consider this “small” isolated problem serious enough to warrant extraordinary attention?

There seems to be no single solution to the fiasco we find ourselves in. Even if the NAIA General Manager or the entire airport personnel be removed for the criminal acts of a few, there is no guarantee the so-called “tanim-bala” modus operandi will stop. Apparently, it seems we find it difficult to trust government nowadays. So, travelers have become paranoid. We must be vigilant and be on the lookout while travelling.

We must know that Republic Act No. 10591 penalizes a person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess an ammunition even without a firearm. An ammunition (consisting of a bullet, gunpowder, cartridge case and primer) colloquially referred to as “bullet” or “bala” is designed to kill or to maim. It is dangerous by itself as it may be set off with lethal force through extreme heat or when the primer is hit. We cannot question the wisdom of the law unless Congress will find it harmless for our children to play with bullets. Possession of live bullets without the requisite license is ILLEGAL, plain and simple.

Yet, government has been very slow in arresting the problem. They think that the incidents don’t show significant statistics for action to be taken seriously. They should be very concerned. In fact, they should have acted immediately on the first reported “tanim-bala” extortion scam. Every incident should be investigated properly and with dispatch. If R.A. 10591 is strictly enforced, then, officials must be very cautious with their actions. With many passengers already victimized by this scam, how can we trust any airport official? From the moment you enter the airport you are already suspicious of possible scenarios that can bewitch you. Sanamagan!

The government must, with more vigor, dismiss and prosecute those found responsible for planting bullets or other illegal objects for extortion or other illegal purposes, and provide assistance to their victims. There are reports that airport security screening personnel are allegedly employing “spotters” to help them find the “perfect” passenger to victimize. These despicable activities of the syndicate have gone unabated for the past 20 years. Even the dilapidated CCTV cameras cannot detect how bullets end up in the luggage of the victims. Of course, these people have been working at the airport for a long time now and they know what CCTV cameras are working and those that are not.

These alleged spotters according to reports would distract passengers before they open the latter’s baggage and swiftly plant the bullet. They normally prey on passengers with connecting flights to international or domestic destinations.

Apparently this group could victimize more than 20 passengers a day. They could be raking in as much as hundreds of thousands of pesos! Out of the collection, 60% allegedly goes to some unscrupulous airport security screeners and 40% to the alleged spotters.

Baggage screeners who know of the illegal actions done by their colleagues should speak up before the rotten among them prejudice everyone. I guess its time government does a lifestyle check on all security screeners. More importantly, experts on airport security should devise effective preventive measures to curtail this illegal scheme. Meantime, we should continue making noise until this is resolved. We need drastic and extraordinary solutions to this simple “tanim-bala” problem to save us from further embarrassment for the pieces of luggage, mummified with plastic wraps, to and from the Philippines.