Malacañang described as “unfortunate” Wednesday the UN advisory to all its personnel who must pass through Philippine airports to secure their luggage amid fears that bullets might be planted in their luggage as part of an extortion racket.
“That’s an unfortunate development and we hope that, moving forward, with the new measures that will be implemented, there will be no need for such advisories in the future,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
Valte would not comment directly on Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya’s statement that the cases of planted bullets have been “blown out of proportion” except to say the President has seen the data.
But she added that the government must move “regardless of the statistics.”
Valte also said that inspectors in Philippine airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where many of the incidents had taken place, could be trusted.
“There is a presumption of regularity,” she said.
With the new guidelines, she said, inspectors would have no contact with the luggage and would examine them only through X-ray machines.
“The inspectors cannot touch the bags anymore. The passengers will be the ones who will handle the bags to eliminate contact by the inspectors,” she said.
Valte also ruled out the suggestion that the government was cracking the whip because of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month.
“The government action on the bullet situation or the incidents regarding loose ammunition in the airport is a reaction not because we’re having visitors but because we have citizens who have complained of being victims of alleged extortionists,” she said. “So that alone, in itself, is enough for government to move and to warrant government action.”
On Wednesday, Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa gave the National Bureau of Investigation special task force 15 days from Wednesday to complete its investigation into the bullet-planting incidents at the Naia.
NBI Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division Head Agent Manuel Antonio Eduarte was designated head of the team with Supervising Agents Manuel Fayre Jr. and Dennis Asistio; and Special Investigators Joselito Guillen, Aubren Cosidon, Rodelio Velez and Marvin Villena as members.
The team was ordered to coordinate with other relevant agencies and to review and evaluate documents and materials related to the extortion racket.
A spokesperson for Philippine Airlines on Wednesday said concerns about the bullet-planting racket have not dampened the willingness of Filipinos to fly.
“Of course these are valid concerns. That is expected. The airline assures the public that steps are being taken to address the issue,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
She said the bullet-planting issue has not affected PAL’s passenger load factor, adding that its booking for the months of November and December showed a spike.
Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the issue has had no major impact on foreign tourist arrivals and spending.
“We will continue to enjoy growth as long as we keep promoting our tourism assets and spreading positive news,” he said.
“The tourism performance indicators remain encouraging with double digit growth with visitor arrivals and revenue for the entire year,” Bengzon added.
For the year 2015, the government targets 5.5 million foreign tourists.
The total number of international visitors from January to August was recorded at 3,590,038 for a 9.87 percent growth compared to the same period last year.
Abaya, in a briefing, said investigations have been ongoing since Day 1, but said the case has been blown out of proportion. With Darwin G. Amojelar
“Let us be mindful that when allegations cast aspersion on all, it is not far fetched to think some of those tasked with our security will suffer from low morale. This will be a disservice to all,” Abaya said.
But Abaya also said even one single case of a passenger wrongly charged and extorted was reason enough for the government to act.
“It is not something that government should ignore. It is something that it should put full force and attention to and likewise it is great concern for the state. A single case of injustice merits full government attention,” he added.
Data from the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group showed the number of passengers apprehended with bullets in their luggage grew by 775 percent to 105 cases from January to November period this year from only 12 incidents last year.
Supt. Jeanne Panisan of the PNP AvSecGroup earlier said the arrests this year yielded 514 bullets, 24 magazines, 20 firearms, 139 accessories or parts of firearms, and 20 replicas. – With Darwin G. Amojelar