The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has terminated three employees of the Office of Transportation Security allegedly involved in the ‘tanim-bala’ incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The termination of the employees was confirmed by newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon in a press conference on Monday.
“Appropriate investigations will be conducted and the proper administrative charges will be filed after the investigation has been conducted. But now we are terminating them already today. I’ve already instructed General [OTS administrator Arthur Velasco] Bisnar to issue that order today,” Dizon said.
“We will not stand for any abuse. Any abuse will be dealt with the same result and the same swift action from us, as mandated and as ordered to us by the President himself. We will not allow this to happen,” he added.
The employees were terminated following an incident on March 6, when a 69-year-old woman, who was about to fly to Vietnam with her family, accused NAIA security personnel of attempting to plant a bullet in her luggage.
In a viral social media post, Ruth Adel, 69, shared that she and her family nearly missed their flight after NAIA security officers claimed to have an x-ray image showing an “anting-anting” (amulet) resembling a bullet casing inside her bag. However, upon physical inspection, no bullet casing was found.
Dizon mentioned that he had also instructed OTS officials to review the screening procedures and security protocols at the airport.
He added that the DOTr would establish a hotline for passengers to report their experiences at NAIA.
For his part, Bisnar stated that the investigation into the three OTS employees is still ongoing but noted that there were clear irregularities involved.
“Ang sinasabi ng ating personnel ay nagmamadaling kunin ng pasahero ang bagahe nila. So kahit may na-detect sila na mukhang basyo o bala sa x-ray, nung tinignan nila ay nakuha na ng pasahero,” he said.
“Ang mali naman na ginawa ay supposedly ang SOP ay doon mismo ‘yung physical check. So may pagkukulang rin talaga ang ating mga tao dahil hinabol pa nila sa boarding gate at hindi pa nila sigurado kung sino ‘yung pasahero at anong baggage ang involved,” he added.
