Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has dismissed Office for Transportation Security (OTS) personnel involved in the alleged tanim-bala (bullet-planting) incident at NAIA Terminal 3 last March 6.
“We are terminating them already today… we will not stand for any abuse. Any abuse will be met with the same result,” Dizon announced in a press conference on Monday. He added that proper administrative charges will be filed against those involved.
A viral Facebook post first exposed the ordeal of 69-year-old Ruth Adel, who was stopped at the airport just before boarding her flight to Vietnam. She was accused of carrying an amulet or anting-anting, which OTS officers later claimed was an empty bullet shell.
Her daughter, Cai, recalled how they were blocked by a female security officer at the boarding gate and told that Ruth’s suitcase needed further inspection. However, the situation quickly became suspicious.
“Sabi ng mother ko, ‘Anong anting-anting?’ Sabi ng officer, ‘Basyo po,’ tumatawa pa siya. So iniisip namin prank ba ito? Bakit ganun yung delivery niya?” Cai recounted in an ABS-CBN News report.
When the officers later insisted that the item was actually in Ruth’s handbag instead of her suitcase, Cai and her mother refused to comply unless the inspection was done publicly.
“Sabi namin, ‘Hindi, kung gusto niyong i-check ang luggage namin, i-check niyo sa harapan ng maraming tao. Alam naman natin, di naman bago sa’min yung mga lalaglagan ka o i-implantan ka ng something,’” she said.
After checking the handbag themselves, the family found no contraband, raising further doubts about the officers’ actions. Videos of the incident also showed three security personnel covering their badges after realizing they were being recorded.
“Nung sabi ni mommy na susumbong namin kayo kay Sir Tulfo, tsaka sila nagtalikuran,” Cai added.
The experience left Ruth deeply shaken.
“Hanggang ngayon, ninenerbyos pa rin ako… dalawang gabi na akong di nakakatulog kasi nga naaalala ko yung nangyari,” she said.
She also admitted losing trust in airport authorities, saying, “Parang wala na akong tiwala. Kaya sabi ko, pag nag-travel ako, kailangan mayroon nang susi yung bag ko.”
Dizon emphasized that the government will not tolerate any form of misconduct in airport security. “Kung akala niyo nagloloko kami, nagkakamali kayo. Kung akala niyo ginagawa namin ito for show, nagkakamali kayo,” he stressed.
The Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group said the OTS is responsible for addressing the matter.
