A 69-year-old passenger, Ruth Adel, complained after she was allegedly victimized by a “tanim-bala” modus operandi at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. According to her Facebook post, on March 6, while they were at the boarding gate for a flight to Vietnam, officers from the Office of Transport Security (OTS) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) approached her and said there was an “anting-anting” or bullet in her bag.
When Adel asked what this meant, a security officer laughed and said that there was a "bullet shell" in his luggage. He thought it was just a joke, but when he insisted on opening his bag, he was sent to the OTS office. He and his family refused because their flight had already started boarding. Later, the OTS supervisor said that the bullet was not in the luggage but in Adel's handbag, showing an X-ray scan as evidence.
When Adel asked what this meant, a security officer laughed and said that there was a "bullet shell" in his luggage. He thought it was just a joke, but when he insisted on opening his bag, he was sent to the OTS office. He and his family refused because their flight had already started boarding. Later, the OTS supervisor said that the bullet was not in the luggage but in Adel's handbag, showing an X-ray scan as evidence.
Adel noticed that the bag did not match the photo and was further confused by the officers' inconsistent statements. When no bullets were found in his belongings, the security personnel suddenly turned away and told him that they were not allowed to take videos. According to Adel, they seemed indifferent to his feelings and seemed oblivious to the inconvenience this caused him and the other passengers.
It is worth remembering that the "tanim-bala" modus first became popular in 2012, where victims were asked for money in exchange for not filing a case. In 2016, former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the confiscation of found bullets and the passenger to be allowed to travel. However, in March 2023, another case was recorded where a Thailand-bound woman was allegedly found with a bullet in her bag.
With the new leadership of Naia, many are hoping that this type of modus operandi will disappear. But from Adel's complaint, it seems that the old rackets at the airport are still there. Will there be an investigation to put an end to such incidents?
