DAVAO CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte called on President Benigno Aquino III to address the problem of “laglag bala” or “tanim bala” where bullets are found inside the luggage of airport passengers.
“I think the president should talk about it once and for all, kaya niya na (he can do it),” said Duterte during his weekly program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa”.
Duterte said he believes a syndicate is behind the modus operandi.
“It has been going on for the past three, two years. Daghan nadakpan diha nga paghuman maareglo. Dili na ko motuo niana (A lot have been arrested but then the case will be settled. I don’t believe that anymore),” said Duterte.
On Friday, a passenger going to Manila from Francisco Bangoy International Airport here was also arrested after the Aviation Security Command found two live bullets inside his luggage.
The passenger was Engineer Augusto Dagan who conducted an ocular inspection for a project of the Davao City Water District.
Duterte said if he would be president he would ask the suspects to swallow the bullet found inside the passengers belongings.
“Ang akong duda pagsulod pa lang ngadto sa Manila diha sa cargo hold, unya dili man nato na makita, ginasulod na na ngadto (I doubt that they are putting it inside the luggage as it enters the cargo hold in Manila because we can’t see it),” he said.
Duterte said those who have access on the cargo area are airline employees and security authorities.
“I am warning those of you who are involved here, these employees who are in cahoots with the police, you just pray that these are not true,” he said.
“Kanang inyong gibinuangan nga tao sa iyahang atubangan ipainom pud nako ng bala sa inyo. Mamatay mo kay mobabag? Ay mirisi, idemanda ko nimo tiwasan tika,. Gioperahan ka kay nay bala gababag sa inyong bituka tangtangon ko ng imong oxygen (If I become president I will make you swallow the bullet in front of your victim. If you die because of it, that’s your fault. If you will file a case against me, I will finish you),” said Duterte.
“What’s incredible is those people who are arrested, missionaries, have 22, 9 mm (bullets). Way mga armas way tanan way problema sa kinabuhi moanhi lang og meeting (They are unarmed, they don’t have problems in life. They just come here to attend a meeting). You better stop it,” he said.
“I know that the Philippine National Police is conducting an investigation. I hope that it will really exonerate you,” he said.
Duterte has also asked the city prosecutors to study the case.
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have already called for the investigation of the arrests of Gloria Ortinez, an Overseas Filipino Worker and Kazunobu Sakamoto, a Japanese passenger for allegedly being in possession of bullets inside their luggage.
In September, a US missionary was also arrested after the Office for Transportation Staff personnel found two bullets in his bag. However, the missionary identified as Lane Michael White has complained that the personnel demanded him to pay P30,000 to avoid filing of charges.
Malacañang on Saturday vowed to probe the said incidents. (davaotoday.com)
