MIAA belies 'tanim-bala,' says luggage search was procedural
Published Jun 18, 2018 09:22 am
By Dhel Nazario
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has belied reports that the practice of "tanim-bala" or bullet-planting in the luggage of travelers has returned and said that the thorough search of all pieces of luggage entering and exiting the airports is merely procedural.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) logo / MANILA BULLETIN
In a report submitted to Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, the MIAA, together with the Office of the Transportation Security indicated that the luggage of Kristine Moran yielded one piece of a .9 mm live ammunition stuck at the bottom of the front pocket which was wrapped in plastic when it passed through the x-ray at the initial security checkpoint.
The bullet-like image that appeared on the x-ray monitor triggered the search. The incident happened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last June 15.
"Ms. Moran was informed about the ensuing action that needs to be done as a matter of procedure. There was nothing irregular in the manner the search was made and the same was done in the presence of Ms. Moran and other airport security personnel on duty at that time," the MIAA said.
The official report was submitted to SAP Go in compliance with the 24-hour deadline given to MIAA and OTS.
"The bullet was confiscated after proper logging of the incident into NAIA's official records. Ms. Moran and companions were thereafter allowed to take their flight to Zamboanga," it further stated.
MIAA assured that the "Tanim Bala" modus is long gone.
"We will not condone any act contrary to the directive given to us by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte during his first few days in office. We shall punish erring airport personnel if proven guilty of any abuse hurled against them."
On the other hand, the agency appealed to the public to be more circumspect in reacting to social media posts.
The alleged victim of the modus posted the incident on Facebook, gathering various reactions from netizens.
The Department of Transportation also released a similar statement regarding the same incident, saying that there was no irregularity on the actions done by the airport security personnel.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) logo / MANILA BULLETIN
In a report submitted to Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, the MIAA, together with the Office of the Transportation Security indicated that the luggage of Kristine Moran yielded one piece of a .9 mm live ammunition stuck at the bottom of the front pocket which was wrapped in plastic when it passed through the x-ray at the initial security checkpoint.
The bullet-like image that appeared on the x-ray monitor triggered the search. The incident happened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last June 15.
"Ms. Moran was informed about the ensuing action that needs to be done as a matter of procedure. There was nothing irregular in the manner the search was made and the same was done in the presence of Ms. Moran and other airport security personnel on duty at that time," the MIAA said.
The official report was submitted to SAP Go in compliance with the 24-hour deadline given to MIAA and OTS.
"The bullet was confiscated after proper logging of the incident into NAIA's official records. Ms. Moran and companions were thereafter allowed to take their flight to Zamboanga," it further stated.
MIAA assured that the "Tanim Bala" modus is long gone.
"We will not condone any act contrary to the directive given to us by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte during his first few days in office. We shall punish erring airport personnel if proven guilty of any abuse hurled against them."
On the other hand, the agency appealed to the public to be more circumspect in reacting to social media posts.
The alleged victim of the modus posted the incident on Facebook, gathering various reactions from netizens.
The Department of Transportation also released a similar statement regarding the same incident, saying that there was no irregularity on the actions done by the airport security personnel.