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Bullet-planting scam in Philippine airport blown out of proportion: official

Xinhua, November 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Philippine transportation chief said Wednesday that the alleged bullet-planting scheme was blown out of proportion, citing that those airport personnel tasked with security could suffer from lower morale because of the accusations.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told reporters that the confiscation of ammunition from some airport passengers was not new.

Citing the data, he said in 2012, there had 977 bullet/ammunition-related incidents at the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA); in 2013, the figure was 2,037; in 2014, it was 1,510; and in 2015, as of October, it was 1,212.

Those confiscated were mixture of empty shells, souvenirs, necklaces, and live ammunition, Abaya said.

"And to give you a perspective: If you have 34.2 million passengers who pass through NAIA terminals; and there are 1,510, let's say 2014, who were caught with ammunition, and you do the math, then the percentage of passengers with ammunition versus the total number is 0.004 percent," he explained.

"So it appears that cases have been blown out of proportion. Let us be mindful that when allegations cast aspersion on all, it is not far-fetched to think that some of those tasked with our security will suffer from lower morale. This would be a disservice to all," he added.

But given that, the DOTC chief said that investigation has already been ongoing regarding the allegation that some airport personnel were allegedly involved in the bullet-planting scam to extort money from the victims.

"But again, although we are talking about statistics in the decimals, let me emphasize that a single case of any passenger wrongly charged, extorted upon, victimized by planting, unjustly charged in court, is unjust. It is something that government should put full force and attention to," he said.

Travellers passing through NAIA have raised concern over the alleged bullet-planting modus operandi after several passengers were held recently after their baggage bore bullet inside upon passing the x-ray machine. Endit