‘Special’ prosecutors
AT LAST, President B.S. Aquino (B for Benigno, S for Special), aka Noynoy, has acted on the alleged “tanim-bala” scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after a public outcry.
President Noynoy’s action was long overdue, but as they say, “better late than never” by way of consuelo de bobo (a fool’s consolation).
Imagine, Malacañang had known about the alleged planting of bullets in the luggage of passengers since the first report came out more than a month ago, but the President vowed to put a stop to the scam only yesterday (Monday)!
That is, only after a public uproar.
This President is really special. It takes an extraordinary situation—a public outcry in this case—for him to move.
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The first reported “planting” at the Naia took place on Sept. 17 when two .22-cal. bullets were “found” inside the suitcase of Lane Michael White, an American missionary who was with his father, an American pastor, and his Filipino stepmother.
The Whites were about to board a plane for Coron, Palawan province, when Lane Michael was apprehended for possession of ammunition.
The young White swore the bullets were not his and that the apprehending officers were demanding P30,000 from him.
Still, White was jailed for six days and was only released after he paid a P40,000 bail.
White’s predicament would have sounded an alarm bell for the President and for officials at the Naia and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
But no. The alleged planting of bullets on passengers’ luggage or suitcases continued, culminating in the arrest of 65-year-old Nimfa Fontamillas, who was bound for Singapore, after a bullet was found inside her shoulder bag.
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The President called for a meeting on Monday with Cabinet members, Naia officials, and top-ranking police officials.
In that meeting, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Naia General Manager Jose Angel Honrado were present.
Among the two most incompetent officials in Noynoy’s administration are Abaya and Honrado.
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The Pasay City prosecutors who handled the preliminary investigation of the cases against the passengers in whose suitcases or luggage bullets were found, are nincompoops.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that a bullet without a gun is useless.
Plain common sense would have dictated that the cases against the airline passengers should be dismissed outright since a prosecutor has the power to do so.
The prosecutors who handled the inquest proceedings against the hapless passengers should have asked themselves questions like:
“What was the motive of the passenger for carrying a single bullet without a gun?”
“Why would a tourist like White who just came from the United States bring two .22-cal. bullets while going on vacation to Palawan?”
“Why would a 65-year-old woman bound for Singapore have a bullet in her bag?”
It seems that one has to be a special case in order to be appointed Pasay City prosecutor.
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Was Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao trying to be funny when he demanded a public apology from Joey de Leon and Sen. Tito Sotto, TV noontime show hosts, for wearing Arab garb in their show?
Pray tell, what was wrong with De Leon and Sotto dressed as Arabs during the program’s Halloween special?
Did De Leon and Sotto insult Islam by wearing an Arab costume?
There are many followers of Islam in Europe and the United States who don’t go around wearing their traditional dress.
