President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an investigation on the alleged ‘tanim bala’ incident reported at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on June 15.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said Duterte has instructed concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Transportation, Manila International Airport Authority, and Office for Transportation Security, to investigate the report of a woman bound for Zamboanga who complained after a gun bullet was found inside her luggage, similar to previous reports of ‘tanim bala’ incidents under the Aquino administration.
“Inaalam ngayon ng authorities kung saan nanggaling ‘yon, kung ano ang puno’t dulo. Kung talaga bang hinulog para mangikil. So pakinggan din natin, antayin natin ang imbestigasyon,” Go said.
Go also said that the agencies were asked to submit a report on the progress of the investigation by Sunday, June 17.
Go added that other victims of the ‘tanim bala’ scam at NAIA should also come forward to help the ongoing investigation.
“Magsumbong kayo, magwala kayo diyan, para maka-create ng attention na merong nangyayari. Pero ang importante dito, walang naha-hassle. Walang na-agrabyado, at walang kinikikilan,” he said.
On June 15, Kristine Moran shared her complaint on Facebook after a bullet was discovered inside her bag at the airport.
Moran shared she and her relatives were bound for Zamboanga when airport employees blocked her to inspect her bag.
“This afternoon around 2:30pm I was at NAIA Terminal 3 Gate 2 upon check-in going to Zamboanga and passing by X-ray, I was held by the officer that my bag was to be for opened for inspection,” Moran’s post read.
“I obliged thinking that they saw the ‘black box’ that I have inside it (a black box is a small equipment in Physical Therapy we use for treating our patients). I placed my bag and the man with the grey sweater help me and even help me opened my bag. he opened it and got an item my daughter’s jumpsuit saying “eto ‘yun” but there was nothing in it.”
Moran said the airport employees looked further until a 9 millimeter bullet was found inside one of the bag pockets, to her surprise.
