In a now-viral Facebook post, a relative claimed that his nephew, who was set to leave the country on March 24 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, was allegedly targeted by the controversial “tanim bala” scheme just before he was scheduled to board his flight.
Pat Dalia, the victim’s aunt, said her nephew—whose identity she did not publicly disclosed—was accused of carrying a bullet in his luggage, an allegation she claimed is part of a long-running extortion modus targeting travelers.
She recounted that it was his first international trip, made with the hope of helping his mother after the loss of his father.
“He held in his heart the hope of traveling abroad to support his mother after the tragic loss of his father to illness a few years ago. This trip represented a new beginning, a chance to uplift his family during a time of profound grief,” she stated. However, his dreams were shattered when he became a victim of the “notorious tanim bala”.
Dalia said the incident has left the family distraught and questioning the safety and integrity of airport procedures. The “tanim bala” scam, which has been in the news since 2015 and has been widely condemned by the public and human rights defenders, is based on the suspected insertion of bullets in travelers’ baggage to extort money in return for the dropping of charges or avoidance of detention.
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A similar experience was reported by Ruth Adel, a 69-year-old traveler, on March 6, while she was in the immigration queue at NAIA on her way to Vietnam with several family members. Adel accused that a female airport security personnel approached them and gestured toward her luggage, saying they had found an anting-anting or amulet in her bag. However, no bullet or bullet case was found in her belongings.
Dalia called on authorities to investigate the incident and implement stronger safeguards to protect travelers.
“My nephew’s experience is not just an isolated incident; it reflects a larger issue of corruption and abuse that affects countless lives,” she said. “It is crucial that we raise our voices against this injustice, demanding accountability and reform,” she added.
As of this writing, airport officials have yet to issue a statement regarding the alleged incident.
