Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
Amidst the outrage and paranoia expressed by the general public over the “laglag bala” or “tanim-bala” scheme, a Facebook user warns of yet another extortion modus operandi seemingly being perpetrated by airport personnel.
Last November 4, netizen Sheryll S. Tiangco posted on her Facebook page what an acquaintance of hers experienced after arriving at the airport. Apparently, a friend of Ms. Tiangco’s brother had just arrived from Boracay. Upon arriving in Manila, the friend was detained after drug-sniffing dogs tagged him as bearing drugs.
While at the security office, officials asked him to pay three thousand pesos to “avoid the inconvenience because they threatened he could be charged as a drug mule or drug carrier.”
Ms. Tiangco’s brother and the friend’s mother hurriedly rushed to the airport to help out. Confident that her son was not using nor pushing drugs, the mom demanded to see CCTV footage and requested for a drug test for her son. Her son tested negative and was subsequently released.
The friend believes that traces of drugs were planted on him upon arrival at the airport. Here is his theory on how the scam is run, as posted by Ms. Taingco:
“Their modus upon arrival, he was welcomed and a necklace of flowers were put around his neck (with gloves). And by then, you are already contaminated with drugs. He said another way was someone will shake your hand to welcome you (again with gloves). So be very careful!”
Ms. Tiangco adds in a separate comment, “Super desperate and they’d even invade your private space just to make someone’s life hell!”
