PAO offers help to victims of ‘laglag-bala’ scam

The Public Attorneys Office (PAO) has offered to help Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and travellers who have fallen prey to “laglag-bala” (bullet planting) scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta on Monday advised scam victims to call the PAO hotline at 9299436.

Acosta said “any incriminatory act of planting/inserting evidence can be criminally charged of ‘incriminatory machinations’ under Article 363 of the Revised Penal Code and may be meted with a penalty of imprisonment of up to four years.”

Aside from that, Acosta added that those involved in the scam can also be charged for violation of Section 38 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms Act for re-planting of ammunitions and may be meted with the penalty of reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of up to 40 years.