The series of scandals that rocks the NAIA lately is another black eye to the already tattered image of the country as being one of the most corrupt in the world. The worst thing though is that Malacanang is in the denial stage and they are not lifting a finger to correct the system.
An American shares his Top 4 effective tips to curb Laglag Bala modus in NAIA! T believed the Manila International Airport Agency should seriously consider his suggestions to make our airports extortion-free.
No screenshot, no case.
First, require the x-ray operators to take a screen shot of the suspicious item as soon as they see it. I don’t know if this is part of NAIA’s standard operating procedure. If not, they should start doing this. In addition, the screenshot should be done before opening the suspicious luggage and should form part of the official report.
No supervisor, no case!
Second, no opening of luggage if no Supervisor is present. The supervisor should be summoned at all times whenever it is warranted to open a suspicious luggage. Again, this should be done before touching the luggage or bag.
Transparency, transparency transparency!
Third, during the opening of the luggage, it is necessary that transparency is practiced at all times. Meaning the inspection is done in full view of the supervisor, the bag owner and the bystanders as witnesses. In addition, the arresting officer should document everything because this will form part of the evidence and the official report.
Big Daddy mentality.
The last but the least, security cameras should be employed to monitor and document everything to remove any iota of doubt especially from the part of the passengers.
In summary, the four suggestions from the retired police officer makes a lot of sense considering that they have been doing this in the US for a long time and there is no reason why we don’t adopt this in our airports. This way, the confidence of the riding public will slowly return. We are doing this not just to protect the visitors, but especially to make our vacationing OFW’s feel that the government appreciates their contribution to the country and their sacrifices.
What do you think about the suggestions of the retired American officer?
Credits to Michael Brown.
It seems that the 4 steps are easy to implement , ASAP.
Please SHARE para sana makarating sa MIAA.
The only problem the American officer overlooked is supervisors and his men connive with each other. That’s Philippines for you.
Good. If I may add, the owner of the bag should be the one to empty and show piece by piece to the officer and the officers hands should be away from the bags until the item is identified visually. Secondly the hands of the officers should be clear and be raised up to be seen by the cameras and to the passenger as well, everytime before they attempt to touch the luggage and its contents. Thirdly, if you could, video record everything.
My recommendation to immediately end this airport screening fiasco is to change the restricted items list and place a note under bullets that if it is only one to three bullets is/are found in the luggage then it is not a violation per se. However, if more than three bullets are discovered then it is a different story.
It’s not easy because the people who scrutinized the baggage in USA isn’t corrupt while ours have an organized crime sabotage between among workers in NAIA. The bystanders will also be planted and the supervisors are also corrupted. Unless they won’t be replaced with fresh graduates SAF COMMANDOS it won’t change….it is a connivance inside…
Avail the video of your cell phones when checking in your hand carry bags before and after padding the bags at the X-ray machine.
The 4 points are good BUT these points are after the fact that someone already placed bullets inside the bag. The XRay already detected the bullets. The problem is how / who placed the bullets in the bag? … like in the case of the 65 years old woman OFW going back to HK… she came from another provincial airport (no trace of bullets found) BUT once Xrayed in NAIA… now these bullets appeared. The woman was held was jailed…
Let’s put this plain and simple. I’m an American Traveler always visiting the Philippines, I am also a highly trained TSA baggage and Cargo scanner. We always have a supervisor present and cameras to monitor all movements and record steps taken. But with this scam it definitely will stop us foreigners from traveling to the Philippines. Something must be done to stop this. Or you will loose your biggest support to the Philippines….TOURIST. Just voicing my opinion as a traveler to your country.
Sad to hear but its true. Our government is heeding the advice of experts. Very busy for the 2016 election I guess.
I agree with you Glenn. Not only TOURIST but also the Filipino people who wants to visit their homeland. Eventually, no one will go Philippines because of this corrupt people employed by the government.
i already have second thoughts of going there; maybe if i want to be buried there when i die, at least they can say a bullet may have did it, or i took a bullet into the country, instead of claiming i was travelling outbound with a bullet…
There are other international airports through which you can choose. Never use NAIA /MIAA, it is the den of the most corrupt in Bureau of Immigration and Custom.
When we visit Philippines do not bring anything..
Excuse me what highly trained you make your self sound very important ha … your just a baggage handler …stop making your self sound so important….TSA “transportation services agency and that means cargo boy….
are u stu*id? TSA is not a cargo boy. we have TSC in which your philippine cargo boys never have since their NBI clearance are all fake. is not easy to be a part of TSA, its more difficult than joining the armed forces here in america.
TSA is transportation security not services, dont be ignorant
Thanks for pointing that out. It’s my fault. Sometimes, when trying to get ahead of the competition, I failed to double check and use big G.
kaw naman, TSA are trained..not as baggage handlers…
kaw naman, TSA are trained not on baggage handling…iba yung baggage handlers
Aba malay ko. Tanungin nyo po ang Amerikanong nagbigay ng suggestions. May twitter account po sya, please.
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION , they are not CARGO BOY. ….
Not a cargo boy, they are transportation security under the US dept of homeland security who are responsible for the security of the people traveling to US
With the current administration, I suggest stop visiting our country 2 months after he steps down. The brainchild of this extortion is a relative have a very close connection to Malacanang.
airport screeners and luggage handlers should go thru metal detector before their shift …
I agree with you., Yeah I am a Filipino American citizen every 2 years we visit in the Philippines and in this case people are afraid to visit there because of that issues.
So sad to say but this Country is so corrupt.
I think the author does not understand that what determines whether or not there is a case is not the victim. In this country, unless you waive the pre-trial investigation, you’re going to spend two weeks in jail while the police investigate. If the police collude with the airport security, you’re going to get shaken down for a lot of money or convicted.
What would be better would be to video your bag going through inspection, with the video going immediately to Dropbox or another cloud service. If stopped and told of a bullet in your bag, immediately call the desk of any newspaper and tell them what happened. Get photographs of the faces of everyone who is accusing you. Call for a supervisor and make sure they understand the level of exposure everyone is about to get, unless they let you go.
Good suggestions. However, need also to point out as I see it – the ‘modus’ is not limited to the airport security as evidenced by the bag assistance handlers knowing too well the extortion scheme, as they may be in cahoots. I suggest that travelers at airports have their bags well-protected from scrupulous persons from the time they arrive at the airport and to keep the bags locked.
If found..Take the fingerprints of the laglag bala.
Its a good suggestion especially coming from an American police officer but i am not in favor that the Filipino authorities will open my luggage. I should be the one to open my luggage with ALL of them present and recording. To make it short the owner of the suspected suitcase or luggage will be the one to open NOT the Filipino officer,supervisor or whatever.
That’s a brilliant comment Lee because they are conniving to each other you can’t trust them all
how about finger prints on the bullet?
YES! Right away!
All points valid and true. Extra things to add is what Lee said and if bullets were found in your luggage, do not touch it. Instead, request to take the finger prints from the bullets. Record all these activities with your camera and witness camera from different angles.
Philippine Gov. should do this method to protect tourists, OFW and those Filipino Immigrants visiting there homeland.
Too pity that our goverment never changed for improvement instead theyre getting worst more corrupted. ;(
for the owner of the luggage to not touch the item/s use gloves or what so ever, to preserve the finger prints or DNA who ever handle the item/s.
Why would few unfired bullets found in one’s luggage considered a crime? Is there, with the bullets or with the luggage owner, something to get them fired? Every airport spent tremendous amount of money on X-ray machine, why can’t the machine catch them before opening a suspicious luggage? It takes a stupid clerk or police office to catch them, who in fact had intentionally dropped them during the process. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
what if it was dropped on your bag by someone before you were being scanned…
i believe we can add securing your bag, keeping an eye on it at all times and keep all openings locked as much as possible a good way too… hand carry baggages are the target right?
i dont get it,why are you formulating actions that will prevent those scalawags to victimize unsuspecting travellers while rooting out all of those scalawags( everyone) and replace with uncorrupted personnel who are justifiably compensated will save us all from this trouble,only if the gremlins from malacanang palace care.
airport personnel and officials should practice common sense….is it logical for an old woman to carry contraband and compromise her 20 years job abroad in exchange for a single bullet which she cannot ever hurt anyone? can he build an army for that single bullet? 0MG….carabao mind….
Heres my suggestion why dont plant bullet in the head of the person who saw the bullet in the xray machine
Good luck if this 4 tips will be implemented. What about life imprisonment for extortionist
palalamunin pa yan ng goberno pag life impresonment…dapat ipakain ang bala sa mga extortionist na yan kasama ang ibang mga conivans dyan… sa palagay ko marami ang sangkot dyan, bakit hanggang ngayon patuloy pa rin cla.
If you guys notice, this happen kung saan mahirap makita yun cctv or kung saan di macover yung area ng cctv! smpre this is this best spot pra wala evidence it was planted and by who dba? its a no brainer i think this is a modus the custom chief to get back at ofw for all the bashing sa social media.
this tips doesnt help! what we need to anticipate is, how to protect our bags from this security who wants to do unwillful things to us? we as travellers dont have any rights to initiate what they should do? they always create policies and procedures in airports by themselves!!
Try this tips http://pinoytrendingnews.net/top-7-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-airport-thieves-and-the-tanim-bala-modus/
Shameful NAIA (laglag bala gang).Shame on policemen that are involved in the transaction as well.
Shame to the group that victimize own countrymen and foreigners.
Scary to go back home to the beloved Philippines. Embarrassment to the whole world.
Owner of the luggage should not touch the bullet, for the purpose of fingerprint identification.. If the bullet is not from the owner of the luggage he or she dont have any fingerprint marks..
All your comments/feefbacks/recommendations/suggestions are well said & justifiable. One grey area & theory since these ground crews are in ‘cahoots’, ‘tanim bala can happen before you reach immigration scanning machine’. And this can happen during your unguarded moments in the airport. In short, madali ka ng itimbre s mga kawatan n etong nkasuot ng ganitong kulay n damit me ‘bala’. So, kahit ikaw mg-open ng bag mo, andun p rin yung bala. Kaya paalala, pg nasa airport area n kayo always keep your handcarry bag close to you at plaging mpagmatyag s paligid natin.
I think it is extremely sad that we have to be given tips to avoid this scam from happening to us. In the first place, are passengers really that stupid to smuggle a few pieces of bullets? Really? Smuggle one or 2 pieces of bullets, common sense naman! Anong mangyayari sa dalawang piraso ang bala? Oh my Gosh mga kababayan ko, talaga bang kailangan gawin ito sa kapwa mo para lang sa konting halaga? Nasaan naman ang konsensya nyo at nasaan naman ang self esteem nyo? Galangin nyo naman ang sarili nyo!
Every customs, airport perdonnel and security and baggage handlers must wear visible and authorized uniforms st all times. These people of the airport must go through a body scan before entering the airport passenger area to ensure that they don’t have any extra bullets with them. They should not be seen closer than five feet near a passenger at all times while inside the airport area of scrutiny
Very sound suggestion. Hope the NAIA management will hear your suggestion.
right! also all officers involved in the inspection procedure must first go through a scanner or better yet stripped naked first to ensure they have no hidden bullets in their possession.
Sa america po yan sa Pinas sa galing ng mga buwaya at sa bilis ng mga kamay nila baka po di rin uubra yan kasi mag kakasabwat minsan ang mga nasa ibaba at nasa pamunuan nila. marahil ay alam na nila yung laglag bala gang na yan they just ignore it. matagal na pala yan nangyayari yan sa airport natin imposible na walang nakaka alam na opisyal dyan sa scam na yan. Ang totoo baka o marahil may share sa kanila binibigay ang mag sindikato. Yung lang po just my opinion.
All you have to say is.
Prove it, that ammo is mine and prove it that this is not a fabricated case. Everyone is entitled of due process of the law. No one should be penalized unless proven guilty.
The best solution for this is to ban or skip flights bound to this bulshit NAIA!! How could the government gets so blind or acting so deaf to this big dilemma of our country!! May you damn NAIA employees get lost!!!
Yes thatnwill be great
So those idiots can stop
Their bullshit!
Thanks
I also would add to that. There should be a two way monitor screens, one for the officers behind the x-ray machine and one big monitor for the passengers and everybody to see. In addition to this, the CCTV camera should be clear and colored.
Just removed & changed all airport securities TANIM BALA SYNDICATE…..hire new honest , hard workers.
I advice all tourist and travellers not visit Philippines and to all OFW use other international airport except NAIA. That’s the only way to solve the problem.
Show me the other airports location, one i know is Baguio City, would the plane can drop me there instead at NAIA?
yon din ang na isip ko is there any other way na hindi na ako dada-an ng NAIA? sana kung mayron lang sa Davao mas maganda.
Finger print scan the bullet.
I agree that inspectors must not open the bags. Their uniform must not have pockets. Their hands up in threw air. Multiple cameras must be working at all times. No camera no inspection.
To immediately end the airport screening fiasco just authorize one to three bullets as okay to bring but of it is more than 3 then it should be investigated. The lag-lag bullet gang uses only one bullet in their illicit operation cause it is faster and easier to insert it in the luggage.
To immediately end the airport screening fiasco just authorize one to three bullets as okay to bring but if it is more than 3 then it should be fully investigated. The lag-lag bullet gang uses only one bullet in their illicit operation cause it is faster and easier to insert it in the luggage.
Those suggestions are good but the best solution is to force and compel MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado and MIAA top brass to resign then implement those what was suggested by the new management.
IMHO, this is the best move that the administration must do. Then, just confiscate that bullet with no big fuss and let the traveler go. Don’t make any big issue about the bullet.
It’s about time that they make a clear-cut implementing policy/procedure of how to go abov this. Otherwise, we would just view this “security measures” they’re doing as0a means to extort from us and our visitors.
The government of the Phil. should shoulder all the lost and damage done to the passenger leaving the country if that passenger after due court proceeding found him or her not guilty of the crime ( Bala ). Then the government should also implement action against those who planted the crime, to jail them, to publish their picture in the newspaper, and do some more punishment to the supervisor of the department…this will surely solve all the Bullets airport crime.
patigasan na ng mukha mga naninindikato dyan sa NAIA. halatang halata na palabigasan ang mga ofw at mga turista ng pinas. araw araw may nahuhuli may nkatagong bala sa loob ng mga gamit nila at nkabalot pa ng tela. ano un lahat ng mga nahuhuli mgkakakila dahil pare-parehas ang klase ng kanilang pagkakahuli. ung administrasyon wlang pake at minamaliit lang ung mga ganyang pangyayari sa bansa. pota nkakahiya na mga pinag gagawa ng mga sindikato dyan sa NAIA. dapat ung mga empleyado na mahuhuling naglalagay ng bala at ung mga matataas sa posisyon na mga nkaka alam ng ganyan diskarte, pinapalunok ng granada tpos idamay na pati mga pamilya nila pra matindi ang karma at sakit na kapalit ng mga ginagawa nilang katarantaduhan at kalokohan sa kapwa.
No offence to the ordinary honest struggling Filipino, but the Philippines is still in a state of shit. Many know that that’s why getting out and staying out is the best way to a brighter future.
sana maka tyempo sila ng baggage ng mg ISIS pra tpos mga ulo nilang lahat
The suggested steps must become part of the Airport Security Standard Operating Procedures and they should be posted all over the airport. In my opinion this syndicate is so big. Taxi drivers, porters, baggage handlers, inspectors, security personnel, airport administrators, PNP and even the the prosecutors could be in it. Even before the innocent passengers arrive at the airport the bullet/s could be in their hand carries or luggages or baggages.
One effective way of eliminating this menace is to review and repeal the PHIL ARMS LAWS. I believe this is what these criminals are using to facilitate their abhorrent and disgusting activities.
ofw the big contributor to our economy being robbed before their eyes as well as the tourist ,very shameful ,very bad image to all of us working overseas and to our country.lets start all over rebuilt our reputation.we need overall reorganization from top to the bottom of airport employees.and imposed stiff penalty and banned them working in the govt. all those involved in tanim bala operation. ofw scared to go home how much more to the tourist ? big impact to our economy. our govt. dont give much attention to this because of the election. to those who were victimized lets pray GOD will bless them hundred folds.
Di na kailangan ng apat, isa lang pwede na. Dumaan sa x ray ang mga tauhan bago magposte sa x ray luggage machine. Dapat malinis sila at walang makikialam at lalapit lapit sa kanila na hindi dumadaan sa ganoon proseso…sa ganoon di sila involve sa tanim bala scam…
Yes !decriminalize the bullet, besides you can’t do much without the gun. This is counterproductive and a crime against the country. The repercussions are so much greater if you allow this to continue. For the love of God; LOVE YOUR COUNTRY.
This has been going on for years actually…until finally this old lady blew up! Good for her. I was nailed 2012 for a 6 inch switch blade knife in my bag. A knife that no one should have in his/her baggage! It as my backpack with side pockets..and they said the bag had a knife in the front small zippered pocket. …long story….if anyone wants to hear. I screwed them by waiting to last call to board plane…and boarded before I would have paid their scam 10K peso. I didn’t pay and flew away…I have NEVER returned to the Philippines since!
All of your suggestions and comments are very good!!additional, bag owners must wear latex gloves and the bags inspectors must not wear a latex gloves so that their fingerprints will be registered on the bullets they inserted to passenger’s bags..
no amount of rules or laws are enough in a corrupt country, with corrupt officials and corrupt law enforcers….