Airport authorities arrested a Filipino-American passenger who was caught with a bullet in his bag at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Fil-Am Joseph Ocasiones, 35 years old and resident of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, was about to travel with his five-year-old son back to California Tuesday night when a bullet was found inside his bag while being checked at the departure area of Naia Terminal 2.
Members of the Aviation Security Group detained Ocasiones overnight at the Avsegroup office.
The next day, policemen brought Ocasiones and his son to the Department of Justice in Pasay City where he was charged with illegal possession of ammunition. But the prosecutors ordered his release for further investigation of the case.
Ocasiones denied owning the bullet, saying he doesn’t have or want to carry a gun. “I was shocked because I thought something would happen to me. I don’t have a gun in the US or here in the Philippines.”
He said he and a friend were the ones who packed his things in the bags before going to the airport, and there was no bullet put in his bag.
Ocasiones said he and his friend padlocked the bags because they learned of the bullet-planting scheme happening at the airports. He said they visited the Philippines upon the invitation of a friend for a tournament.
Airport officials have ordered the installation of additional close circuit television cameras to monitor personnel screening the luggage of passengers. They also imposed a “no-touch” policy to prevent incidents of “bullet-planting.”
Chief Insp. Samuel Hojilla, spokesperson of the Aviation Security Group, said despite warning signboards and the installation of “last-look booth” for passengers to check their baggage, airport cops continue to apprehend passengers with bullets.
A lifestyle check is also being conducted in accordance with the directive of President Benigno Aquino III to the National Police to take concrete steps in addressing the controversy over the “tanim-bala” modus happening at the airports.