Philippines hopes alleged bullet-planting scam not to affect tourism

The Philippines said on Friday that it hoped the alleged bullet-planting scam at the captial's airport would not affect the country's tourism.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told a news conference that she hoped that the incident, which has already drawn media attention abroad, would not affect the country in the long term.

"Unfortunately, these are unintended consequences of the attention that this has generated and we are hoping that the effects will not be lasting," she said.

Cases of bullets allegedly being dropped in passengers' luggage and then "found" by security personnel who demand a fine, were reported at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Valte said the government has already implemented new screening and security protocols to prevent people from being victimized, if there are really syndicates operating at the airport.

Valte said the National Bureau of Investigation is already on deck to conduct its own probe.

With the implementation of these measures, she said, this bullet planting and other schemes could be minimized and no one would be unfairly accused of an offense he or she did not commit.

Valte, however, noted that should there be cases of bullets being found in the luggage of passengers, they will be handled by the Philippine National Police's Aviation Security Group. Endit