Bullet Scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila Philippines
While browsing through what is trending on twitter something caught my attention about certain “#laglagbala” and it was all over the news in the Philippines.
Laglag bala is scam of planting a bullet inside a passengers luggage, and there were so many speculations about why this disgusting act happened. While reading the news about this bullet scam, I have come to a conclusion that this scam happens for two reasons.
One, it is very apparent that Christmas season is fast approaching and people needs money. They have caught and put personnel under investigations and we have not heard any reports about it yet. However, to my take, this is simply an act of extortion. People involved were police officers and OTS personnel, so I think they were trying to make money by victimizing people who travels, thinking that they might have brought home money and there is no easy way to extort money from them and it is to get them in trouble.
Two, Presidential election is also coming and this is one way to discredit the endorsed party flag carrier. Creating a havoc for people who visits the Philippines is one way to tell people of their complacency and incompetence when it comes to peace and security.
My opinion on this:
It is pathetic and ruthless! Victimizing an elderly woman whose intention was just to make her family happy by bringing home her hard earned money and her presence was totally unacceptable!
What is going on with this agency? First they had issues with customs opening boxes and stealing items and now planting bullets just to extort money? Do they have any shame at all and feed their own family from the money they stole from other people?
Flying to the Philippines is getting scarier, although the last time I visited the Philippines was uneventful and going through customs and OTS was never a problem. But what is the possibility that I will not be the next victim of this scumbags?
How could they live their lives knowing that they have aggravated someone who is so clueless that their future will be at stake when they set foot inside the airport?
Just like that American citizen whose main intention was to help the poor Filipinos uplift their lives? What will happen to those poor people whose hopes depend on these samaritans who are now being accused of “terrorist” act?
Now I see passengers wrapping their luggage with plastic wraps and packaging tape so they will not fall into these menace’s hands preying on their pockets. I even saw this picture on twitter saying…
“Paalala – Mahal ko aking Pamilya, Di ako Tanga, Bagahe ko walang Bala” – “Reminder – I love my Family, I am not an idiot, My baggage does not have a bullet”.
Passengers are not stupid to bring anything that will put them in trouble, this is the reason why I am really wondering why there are some demons who will do anything as in everything, just to extort money from other people and feed their family from dirty money.
My gosh its a shame
Now I am really scared to visit the Philippines. Kidnappers in Mindanao, thieves from customs, robbers on the road, now extortion in the airport. Philippines is definitely off my bucket list.
This is very shameful, how can we claim the Filipino hospitality anymore? When the door to our country is full of corrupt people and hostile employees?
Good luck Philippines! Those people are a disgrace to the Filipino people!
Now, I am hesitant to have my vacation in the Philippines. How can Philippines attract visitors if all you hear & see are negative things such as corruption, kidnapping, robbery, etc. “Sa Bansang Mahal ang Bigas, gayundin ang Gas, maraming Mandurugas… PILIPINAS!!!
Those people are a disgrace to the Filipino people! They should be ashame of themselves!