Other airports on lookout for bullet ‘planters’

The incidents of bullets found in passengers’ baggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) have prompted the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to consider infusing more funds to improve its surveillance system.

While no “bullet planting” or missing baggage has been reported at any of the 42 commercial airports under CAAP control, the aviation body said its personnel have been instructed to be on the alert for the possibility of similar occurrences.

The CAAP expressed alarm over complaints aired by two American passengers concerning bullets that suddenly “appeared” inside their bags at the Naia departure area initial security screening.

Twenty-year-old Lane Michael White, a missionary from Florida, was charged in court with illegal possession of ammunition after a .22-caliber bullet was allegedly discovered in his bag and he refused to pay P30,000 to two security personnel of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) to settle his case.

Another passenger, a wheelchair-bound Filipino-American woman, said she gave P500 to OTS personnel so she would be cleared to fly home to California after two .22-caliber bullets were allegedly found in her suitcase.

Not under CAAP

Among the country’s commercial airports, only the following do not fall under CAAP authority: Naia, Clark International Airport, Cebu-Mactan International Airport, Subic International Airport and Poro Point International Airport.

According to CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio, most of the 42 commercial airports under the agency’s control have surveillance systems, particularly closed circuit television (CCTV).

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has asked the OTS, which is under the Department of Transportation and Communications, to investigate the allegations of extortion against some of its personnel.

“Considering recent events, the coordination we have is for OTS to investigate the alleged planting of bullets and for such to be prevented from happening again,” David de Castro, spokesman for the Miaa general manager said in a text message on Sunday.—Jeannette I. Andrade