In an effort to eradicate the “Tanim Bala” scam hounding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a lawmaker has filed a measure to decriminalize the mere possession of not more than three bullets.
Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, the vice presidential candidate of Liberal Party, filed House Bill 6245, otherwise known as Iwas Tanim Bala Bill, which aims to put an end to the Tanim Bala modus operandi, safeguarding passengers in NAIA from harassment and extortion.
“Let’s stop this scam and ensure the safety and well being the passengers in NAIA,” she added.
Robredo made the move after a number of passengers have been arrested in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for possession of bullets in their luggage.
Those arrested were not allowed to board their flights, thus, preventing them from reaching their destination. According to news reports, these arrests are part of a scheme done by Airport staff to extort money from passengers in the airport.
“This scam has affected a number of our countrymen and foreigners who were on their way to another country or to other places in the Philippines,” Robredo stressed.
Robredo added that aside from extortion, it also abridges our constitutionally guaranteed right to freely travel by preventing passengers from catching their flights and damages reputation of the Philippines since several of the victims have been foreign tourists who were in the country for their vacations.
“Further occurrences of the Tanim Bala scam will severely hamper our efforts to bolster tourism since NAIA is the gateway to the country,” Robredo said.
A counterpart measure in the Senate has been filed by Sen. Bam Aquino.