Newsmakers
Manila airport staff accused of brazen bullet scam
November 1st 2015
Philippines president, Benigno Aquino, has ordered an inquiry into allegations that security staff at Manila’s main international airport plant bullets in passengers’ baggage and then demand money from their victims. Read More » It is alleged staff hide bullets in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers, produce the bullets during security searches and extort money from the unlucky travelers to avoid charges. Victims have included a Japanese tourist found with two bullets in his luggage and a wheelchair bound passenger who was accused of carrying one bullet. Manila media said a U.S. missionary, Lane Michael White, complained to authorities after airport staff said they found two bullets in his bags and demanded 30,000 pesos (US$645) in exchange for allowing him to continue his journey. The Philippines secretary of transportation and communications, Joseph Emilio Abaya, told local media his department is “thoroughly looking into” the incidents.
