Philippine bill to make possession of bullets lawful

Manila: To put an end to a modus at the airports where people in authority would plant bullets on the belongings of an individual, a measure seeks to decriminalise possession of such items.

“Let’s stop this (bullet planting) scam and ensure the safety and well-being of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” Representative Leni Robredo of the third congressional district of Camarines Sur said as she filed House Bill 6245.

House Bill 6245 essentially decriminalises possession of bullets a certain number of bullets found in possession of an individual using the airports, bus or any public conveyance.

Cases abound of travellers running into trouble with the law because a piece of bullet had been planted into their luggage when they checked in at the airports.

Carrying bullets on board or while about to board an aircraft, or for that matter, any public conveyance including ships or even buses, is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment under the country’s current law.

Unscrupulous persons in authority would plant “evidence” on the belongings of passengers to incriminate them and later on extort money from them in exchange for withdrawing charges.

Robredo cited the case of Santiago Cabrera Peñaflorida, 77, who was checking-in his baggage at the NAIA-2 for his flight to Los Angeles when a bullet was discovered in his backpack while passing through the airport X-ray unit.

Despite the protests of the Peñafloridas, the elderly Fil-Am was held at the Philippine national Police Aviation Security Group for investigation.

Peñaflorida and his daughter, who was traveling with him, had denied that the bullet was theirs, saying their baggage went through x-ray at the Iloilo airport and was cleared of any contraband.

It was found out that after arriving from Iloilo, the Peñafloridas disembarked at NAIA-2 domestic arrival area and went directly to the international departure area for check-in.

Likewise, Robredo said an American missionary was detained last year for illegal possession of ammunition at NAIA after a bullet was found in his luggage.

A number of officials at the NAIA had already been dismissed and charged in connection with these modus.

But the damage was already done as the scheme has affected the country’s tourism as foreign tourists avoided visiting the country.

Robredo, a lawyer, said travellers need to be assured that the law against bullet possession is not used for wrong purposes.

Under Robredo’s proposal possession of a single or even as many as three pieces of bullets is not a cause for authorities to charge a person with criminal offense.

Among the number of Filipinos charged with illegal possession of bullets at the airports are overseas Filipino workers who keep inert pieces of ammunition slug as amulets to ward off misfortune or evil spirits.

By itself, a solitary bullet, even with its slug and powder charge intact, is harmless untill a sharp blow has been delivered to its primer at the rear end of the casing.