Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

No proof ‘Laglag Bala’ scheme done by syndicates –DOTC

Posted on November 4, 2015

By Azer N. Parrocha

MANILA, Nov 4 (PNA) — The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) on Wednesday said that there is no proof that the extortion scheme called ‘Laglag Bala’ or bullet-planting is caused by syndicates.

“We have yet to get any fact that there are syndicates that operate this (scheme),” DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said during a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Abaya made the statement in response to questions from media regarding the rise in cases of bullet-planting in NAIA in the recent months.

He pointed out that although it was one of the many possibilities, concerned government agencies have yet to provide solid evidence to validate it.

The DOTC chief meanwhile dodged the question on whether he believed the buzz about the bullet-planting incidents were a demolition job against the government.

“Only a third party, impartial, credible, non-government person can honestly tell us if there is ‘kababalaghan’ or is someone operating behind this,” he said.

Data from the Office of Transport Security (OTS) showed that there were a total of 1,394 cases of ammunition interception incidents recorded in 20 of the country’s airports. Of these, 1,212 cases were recorded in NAIA Terminals 1 to 4.

Last year, there were 1,813 cases of ammunition interception incidents recorded in 20 of the country’s airports. Of these, 1,510 cases were recorded in NAIA Terminals 1 to 4.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Chief Francisco Balagtas said that NAIA Terminals 1 to 4 recorded 139 incidents in 2015 to date, in which people were caught with live ammunition.

Also in Terminal 1 to 4, from March to the present day, only 51 cases have been filed by the PNP Aviation Security Group against those caught with live ammunition as reported to us by the screeners.

Abaya noted that in 2014, there were 34.2-million passengers that passed through NAIA Terminals 1 to 4 from the 53.3-million passengers that went through all Philippine airports.

“If you have 34.2 million passengers who pass through NAIA terminals; and there are 1,510, let’s say 2014, who were caught with ammunition then the percentage of passengers with ammunition versus the total number is 0.004 percent,” Abaya said.

“If you take it from departing passengers alone it is 0.008 percent,” he added, stressing that although it was a small percent of the total passengers, every single incident should be given attention.

He meanwhile assured anew that investigations have been ongoing since Day 1.

“…Whenever we have this kind of grave accusations, it is incumbent upon us, government and authority, to look into the accusations and to make a determination of what actually happened. We cannot let these incidents slide,” he said. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme