What used to be a routine procedure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is now viewed with suspicion. INQUIRER PHOTO
Malacañang Palace on Saturday said it had already informed President Benigno Aquino III of the reported “laglag-bala” incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“It is saddening that this is happening,” presidential spokeperson Edwin Lacierda said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.
“We have raised it with [Transportation] Secretary Jun Abaya and the President and that’s why there are instructions from President Aquino and the secretary to look into this issue,” Lacierda said.
“Secretary Abaya and I talked and he said they would install additional closed-circuit television in those areas,” he added.
Earlier another Palace official, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said the issue of bullets being planted in the bags of Naia passengers should be put in proper context.
READ: Palace downplays ‘laglag-bala’: Put issues in proper context
Nevertheless, he said the reported incidents were being investigated.
Lacierda, on the other hand, reminded passengers to ensure they were the ones who prepared their own luggage.
He said Abaya would make sure that airport personnel were doing their jobs.
“This issue of planting of bullets will be properly investigated so that we can fix what is happening there,” he added.
READ: Bullet binge
“So we’re looking at the process. We’re looking at how that happened. We’re looking at the personnel involved. We want to assure the public that … We want to take away that fear from them. We will ensure the safety of each and every passenger who uses our terminals,” he said.
Among the more popular cases of the so-called modus operandi in Naia is that of Filipino-American Rhed Austria de Guzman. De Guzman, who is confined to a wheelchair, did not file a complaint but posted on Facebook how she became a victim of extortion. Kristine Angeli Sabillo/RC
READ: 2 Naia security screening officers probed for alleged ‘kotong’