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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos orders probe on alleged 'tanim-bala,' escaping fugitives

Marcos orders probe on alleged 'tanim-bala,' escaping fugitives

Published Mar 10, 2025 06:25 am

At A Glance

  • According to Castro, it's the President's rule to wait for an investigation to finish before drawing conclusions.

Malacañang said President Marcos has ordered investigations on the supposed comeback of the "tanim-bala" scam in the airport and on the immigration officials who have supposedly aided the escape of a South Korean fugitive.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores)

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Communication Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President wanted to get to the bottom of the alleged planting of ammunition at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last week.

"Hindi po maganda kung ito man po ay mauulit (It's not good if it happens again)," she said on Monday, March 10.

"Lalong-lalo na po kung mga turista po o mga kapwa Pilipino natin ang magiging biktima nito (Especially if the victims are tourists or our fellow Filipino)," she added.

According to Castro, President Marcos would not allow such schemes to continue.

"So ito po talaga ay paiimbestigahan ng Pangulo at sa tulong na rin po ni (So the President will have this investigated with the help of) DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary Vince Dizon," she said.

"Hindi po ito papayagan ng Pangulo. So may kailangan pong managot kung merong dapat managot after thorough investigation (The President won't let this go on. Someone has to pay if that's what a thorough investigation says)," she added.

In a separate press briefing on Monday, Dizon said the DOTr has already dismissed the three employees of the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) allegedly involved in a "tanim-bala" incident at NAIA Terminal 3.

Dizon said proper administrative charges would be filed, pending a full investigation.

"Any abuse will be met with the same result and the same swift action as mandated by the President," he said.

Meanwhile, asked about the Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel who allegedly helped a South Korean fugitive to escape, Castro said Marcos has also ordered an investigation into the matter.

"Kapag po ganyan may nangyayaring anomalya, hindi po 'to pinalalampas ng Pangulo (The President never lets any anomalies slide)," she said.

"Lagi po ito sinasabihan kung sino man po ang head ng agency na dapat kung dapat magkaroon ng imbestigasyon na agaran, dapat gawin po at dapat bigyan ng solusyon ang ano mang issues o problema (He always instructs whoever is the head of the agency that if an immediate investigation is warranted, it should be done, and a solution should be provided for whatever issues or problems arise)," she added.

According to Castro, it's the President's rule to wait for an investigation to finish before drawing conclusions.

"Ang Pangulo naman po kasi ay laging sasabihin na dapat munang imbestigahan (He always says that there should be an investigation first)," she said.

"Hindi po kasi siya agad nagbibigay ng kanyang konklusyon hanggang hindi po kumpleto ang pag-iimbestiga na dapat gawin (He doesn't give conclusions while investigations are ongoing)," she added.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said last week that a driver and two escorts from the BI have been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly helping in the escape of Na Ikhyeon, 38, who was arrested by the BI in 2023.

The three personnel, whose identities were withheld, were charged with conniving or consenting to evasion under Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos Tanim-bala claire castro Bureau of Immigration President Marcos
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