Senate probe into ‘laglag-bala’ set on Thursday
MANILA — The Senate scheduled on Thursday its inquiry into the “bullet planting” modus otherwise known as “laglag-bala” or “tanim-bala” at the country’s airports.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said the Senate committee on public service slated its probe at 10 a.m. He invited Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Josel Angel Honrado to attend.
The senator added that he would also invite supposed victims of bullet planting and the Aviation Security Group to answer inquiries on the issue.
”We are trying to get the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) report if it would be ready. I would try to invite those who have been arrested but has since been released. We want their stories on record particularly the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) victims,” Osmeña said in a Senate media interview.
Osmeña said he believes a syndicate is behind the bullet planting modus that caused anxiety among passengers of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
”I believe it has to be done by a syndicate because they are those who would plant the bullet and then later on a different person collects the money,” Osmeña said.
The Senate inquiry on bullet planting is the aid of legislation, Osmeña said, vowing to assess the proposal to decriminalize the carrying of three bullets or less.
”It’s the enforcement of the laws that’s important,” Osmeña said.
Sen. Ralph Recto earlier expressed the need to review the legislation on bullet planting. He said those who carry guns must be penalized rather than those who carry bullets.
Reports said bullet planting victims increased from only 12 in 2014 to 115 cases this year.
On Monday, the Senate also invited Abaya for a Senate probe on the Metro Rail Transit. It will be his second appearance in the Senate if he attends the bullet planting probe on Thursday.