DOJ chief: ‘Tanim-bala’ being politicized

JUSTICE Secretary Emmanuel Caparas on Tuesday called on air passengers to heed authorities’ warning not to bring bullets to the airport, saying incidents of “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) seemed to be being used for political purposes.

“If I may say this one more time, this tanim-bala (scam), there are many things coming out of it [like] harassment, extortion. Let’s not make a big deal out of this, although we still have to get facts from this, this is another, I think, without prejudging it, it seems [to be] another unfortunate event that is being used for media purposes. Hopefully this will stop,” Caparas told in a press conference.

Asked to elaborate, Caparas said he thought the tanim-bala incidents were “already dead” and seemed to be used as a “diversion” as the May 9 election nears.

“With elections coming up many things are going to happen here. It could be a diversion, it could be directly related or something that is merely using the media attention that would be obtained by doing these things,” he said.

One of the scenarios investigators are looking at is the existence of a group which is exploiting the tanim-bala incidents.

Last week, an elderly couple bound for the United States were prevented from boarding their flight after a bullet was found inside one of their luggage. The couple denied owning the bullet, saying it did not show up in earlier inspections.

Caparas, however, defended law enforcers and airport personnel being accused without proof.