2 more passengers caught with bullets in luggage at Naia
At the height of the alleged “tanim-bala (bullet-planting) extortion scheme,” two more passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were caught with bullets inside their luggage on Wednesday.
A gun with five .22-caliber bullets was detected in the hand-carry luggage of Filipino-American Ramon Velasco in the final screening, Radyo Inquirer reported. Velasco is bound for the United States.
A bullet was also found inside the bag of 46-year-old dental assistant Rey Salado, who was bound for Cagayan de Oro for the burial of his father.
However, although admitting that ammunition was indeed his possession, Salado said he did not intend to bring it with him.
“Souvenir po sa akin ‘yan galing Baguio, alam ko namang bawal, hindi ko lang natanggal sa bagahe,” Salgado told Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
(That is a souvenir for me from Baguio, I know that it is prohibited, I was just not able to remove it from my baggage.)
READ: Abaya: Perpetrators could face life imprisonment for ‘tanim-bala’
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) led by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya held a press conference at Naia on the same day on the alleged “bullet-plating scheme,” saying that persons or groups behind the racket will face charges if proven guilty.
DOTC said there have been cases of possible and corruption and extortion involving airport security officials, but also noted that some passengers admitted in using bullets as amulets or
“anting-anting.” RAM
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