MANILA, Philippines – “Isang bala ka lang.”
The late Fernando Poe Jr’s famous line from the movie of the same title has been going the rounds on social media. Netizens have been sharing reports of a modus known as ‘laglag-bala’ or bullet planting that has been occuring at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). (READ: ‘How to curb ‘laglag-bala’ modus and airport extortion‘)
The most recent incident that caused outrage on social media involved a 56-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) named Gloria Ortinez. She was arrested and prevented from leaving the country for Hong Kong after authorities at NAIA 2 claimed to have found a bullet wrapped in red cloth inside her bag.
Ortinez has denied that the bullet was hers. Ortinez also said that she would never bring the bullet with her as she was well aware of Hong Kong’s strict security laws.
The arrest triggered public outrage, and netizens were quick to react on social media.
This #tanimbala issue concerning #NAIA personnel gives new meaning to the line "ISANG BALA KA LANG".
— Michel Eldiy (@ChiliMedley) October 28, 2015Ang Pilipinas parang joke nalang. Sa Airport palang, isang bala ka lang!
— aûвяеу (@breinkurt_garay) October 28, 2015Grace Poe will have the unanimous votes of all NAIA security personnel. They're avid FPJ fans, specially of "Isang Bala Ka Lang".
Boom! 😉
— Peter S. Castillo II (@poklong23) October 28, 2015A lot of netizens expressed anger against authorities for NAIA’s poor security and failure to address the issue.
Lunatics should be in asylums, not working in an airport. Fire every customs, immi and airport personnel, let them blame Laglag-bala boy.
— ʀᴀfᴀᴇʟ ʙᴀʟɪɴᴅᴏɴɢ (@rstarkiller) October 28, 2015
I hope NAIA management realises how much is lost for every laglag bala case. The magnitude for its ripple effect is no joking matter.
— Ethel (@econcepcion) October 28, 2015
This laglag bala scheme is shameful. We destroy trust, not just for tourists, but even for our own countrymen.
— Ethel (@econcepcion) October 28, 2015
The laglag-bala incident is already becoming an international embarrassment. #NAIA
— Cong. Win Gatchalian (@WinGatchalian74) October 28, 2015
My God NAIA please act faster this has to stop! #laglagbala i hope those people who did this will burn in hell.
— Rd GNC (@iamrdgnc) October 26, 2015
Some netizens are scared of falling victim to the scheme too.
off to a vacation next week but having doubts now.. the excitement was killed by the laglag bala news.. 🙁 scary.. #laglagbala
— Archie (@iamarchieco) October 28, 2015
i thought i was gonna be a victim of that 'laglag bala' in the airport
— 森 (@JS_701) October 27, 2015
These laglag bala incidents in naia scares me haha
— Zoe Abad (@orioncastell) October 6, 2015
I love to travel but I heard about the "laglag bala modus", scary. Shame on you, whoever you are. To our gov't, what's up? Any actions?
— melody fayloga (@FaylogaMelody) October 3, 2015
Now OFWs and balikbayans are to worry two things when they come n go n the country. The "bullet planting" n the checkups of balikbayan boxes
— Trey Perez (@trip_per) October 27, 2015
The "tanim-bala" extortion at NAIA happened several times, but the @DOTCPhilippines is again blind and callous.
— Gregorio Larrazabal (@GoyYLarrazabal) October 27, 2015Some also expressed their doubt that the OFW would dare bring a bullet.
Kawawa naman yung Ale na nabiktima ng Tanim-Bala! 30 years ng OFW, aanhin niya yung ISANG BALA?! tapos sasabihin na mahigpit ang security?!!
— Pusong Leon (@lionhearted_jd) October 26, 2015
Tanginang NAIA tanim-bala na yan. Naninira kayo ng buhay. Aanhin naman nung OFW yung isang pirasong bala? -_-
— Ja (@jarmayne) October 26, 2015
Thr news about the "laglag bala". C'mon airport security. Asan ang logic dun. Iipitin nyo ang ofw dahil sa bala? Wala naman baril.
— ambia mari abolucion (@mrsabobi) October 26, 2015
Some politicians also decried the incident. Senatorial aspirant and longtime OFW advocate Susan Ople called for Ortinez’s release. She said it was clear that the longtime OFW was innocent, and that she should not face charges of illegal possession of ammunition. (Read: ‘Susan Ople calls for release of NAIA ‘bullet planting’ scam victim‘)
“Bakit naman niya ilalagay sa alanganin ang kanyang trabaho sa Hong Kong para sa isang bala? Sa tagal na niya bilang isang OFW, alam na alam niya na bawal ito hindi lang sa ating batas kung hindi pati na sa batas ng Hong Kong,” Ople said.
(Why would she risk the job waiting for her in Hong Kong for one bullet? As a longtime OFW, she is quite aware that carrying ammunition is prohibited under Philippine and Hong Kong laws.)
What are your thoughts on the “laglag-bala” scheme? Have you experienced it too? Share your thoughts on X. – Rappler.com
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