Three security screening officers were terminated for their alleged involvement in the latest incident of the bullet-planting scheme, locally known as “tanim-bala,” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced this decision following complaints made by two passengers, Ruth and her daughter Cai, on March 6.
They reported that Office for Transportation Security (OTS) personnel claimed to have found an empty bullet in their luggage, but upon inspection, nothing was discovered.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” said Dizon at a press conference. “If that happened to me, I would be traumatized. We know that as passengers, this kind of situation is very stressful.”
Dizon did not identify those involved, saying the case is currently under investigation.
He also instructed his Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports, Capt. Jim Sydiongco, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Jose Ines, and OTS Administrator Arthur Bisnar to review the security screening protocols to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
The OTS and MIAA are attached agencies of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The country’s premier airport has been struggling with cases of theft and various irregularities, including the “tanim-bala” scheme to extort money from unsuspecting passengers at the airport.
This scandal first came to light in 2015, when at least 30 cases involving errant OTS security officers were recorded, primarily affecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and foreign tourists.
In 2023, the OTS faced further controversy when a female security screening officer was caught on CCTV swallowing three $100 bills stolen from a Chinese passenger departing Manila.
The officer was reportedly in collusion with at least two other airport personnel, including a baggage X-ray machine operator.
The series of thefts and other irregularities reported in 2023 involving OTS staff prompted House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to call for the resignation of then-administrator Ma.O Aplasca, who initially filed for a leave of absence but later stepped down.
Additional controversies involving OTS personnel included the arrest of two screening officers for allegedly extorting money from a Thai national, and another officer was dismissed for stealing a watch from a Chinese national.
A wheelchair attendant’s mobile phone was also reported stolen by an OTS employee.
From 2022 to March 2023, 30 OTS personnel faced disciplinary action: 18 were dismissed, 26 reprimanded, three suspended, and 14 cases were submitted for review by the Legal Office.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul to prevent such misconduct and improve the airport’s reputation, which is detrimental to the country and the economy.
He recommended a complete reorganization of the OTS and suggested that the Department of Transportation replace the entire workforce, re-hiring only those who pass a strict vetting process based on integrity, efficiency, and honesty.
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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “Dizon fires NAIA screening personnel over ‘tanim-bala’ incident.”