Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered airport security personnel to stop the practise of detaining passengers for possession of bullets.
Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, newly placed head of the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) said that upon orders of President Duterte, air travellers will not be immediately held by airport authorities if bullets or a few pieces of ammunition are found in their belongings.
“Passengers need not worry anymore that bullets would be planted in their baggage” Aplasca was quoted as saying in reports.
Nevertheless, passengers still need to explain why the item or items is in their possession.
Philippine airports have gained local as well as global notoriety for the so-called “bullet-planting” modus operandi by certain individuals, including airport security personnel.
The bullets are “planted” surreptitiously by certain personnel to incriminate passengers and extort money from them. The scheme had been taking place for several years and a number of passengers, including foreigners have come forward with complaints.
Although there are some who admit taking bullets or parts of ammunition with them in their baggage, some claimed they have no knowledge of such regulations and are detained for extended periods.
Some Filipinos also take the bullets with them as talisman to ward off bad luck.
“We assure the public that they will not anymore miss their flights because a piece of ammunition was found among their belongings,” Aplasca said.
The bullet planting modus operandi was so prevalent in the past that President Benigno Aquino III ordered an investigation into such practices by personnel at the airports.
As a result of those findings, a number of members of the Office of Transport Security and Avsegroup were dismissed and administratively charged.
In cases where bullets are found, the item would be confiscated and the threat would be evaluated.
Under international aviation security rules, it is prohibited to carry live ammunition or guns inside the hand baggage or checked in items unless it is covered with a permit from relevant authorities.
