Duterte orders probe of ‘tanim bala’ incident at Naia

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered officials of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to investigate and submit a report on an alleged incident of “tanim bala” (planted bullet) there.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go told reporters here that the President had expected “all concerned agencies” to submit their reports on the July 15 incident reported by a Kristine Moran within 24 hours starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.

“We are expecting them to comply or face the consequences,” Go said.

Moran, who claimed to be a government employee, said on Facebook that she and some of her relatives were heading for Zamboanga City via NAIA 3 when the incident took place. She wrote:

“Upon check in going to Zamboanga and passing by X-ray I was held by the officer that my bag was to be for opened for inspection. I obliged thinking that they saw the ‘black box’ that I have inside it (a black box is a small equipment in Physical Therapy we use for treating our patients ). I placed my bag and the man with the grey sweater help me and even help me opened my bag. He opened it and got an item my daughter’s jumpsuit saying ‘etu yun’ but there was nothing in it. The other officer said ‘buksan pa natin’ to my shock and dismay I saw a bullet inside the front pocket of my baggage. It was I tiny bullet (9 mm) goodness!!!”

Moran said she was furious and was yelling.

She said what made her furious was that her child, who had just been discharged from the hospital, and her mother – a senior citizen – was with her.

Moran said she knew she was not carrying any contraband.

“Tanim bala is real !!!” she added.

“We reiterate – the Duterte Administration will never tolerate this modus operandi. We have ordered the concerned agencies to address this within 24 hours,” Go said.

He also urged other possible victims to come out into the open.

“The government is open to receive complaints. Let us work together to put a stop to this kind of anomaly,” Go added. /atm