NAIA cops confiscate ‘anting-anting,’ bolos

These anting-anting (amulets) are anything but harmless and they cannot be worn on any plane leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In February alone, 124 amulets fashioned out of empty bullet shells were confiscated by NAIA authorities from passengers who believe that these amulets ward off kulam (black magic).

Though empty, these bullet amulets are considered "dangerous" and are not allowed inside airplanes because they can still be "recapped" or refilled and sealed with wax or soap to make live bullets or triggering mechanisms for bombs.

Chief Inspector Jonathan Galang, 1st Police Center for Aviation Services (PCAS) Terminal 1 station chief, said bullets converted into amulets, lucky charms or souvenir items are immediately confiscated at the airport.

He added that Filipinos who wear or carry these lucky charms, usually Ilocanos and Pangasinenses, believe that these amulets ward off black magic.

Foreign nationals and tourists, on the other hand, buy bullet amulets and try to carry them home as souvenirs not knowing that these are banned from commercial aircraft.

He added that soft or non-metal slugs may not be effective in shooting someone, but they can be used to trigger bombs.

Galan said most pasengers who are asked why they are carrying the prohibited amulets tell the airport police that these items were bought from herbolarios (herbalists).

"Harmless or not, bullets are not allowed inside airplanes," Galang said, adding that other items are also banned from commercial flights: liquids and gels, such as toothpaste and perfumes. These items may only be stowed in luggage that is checked in and not in passengers’ carry-on luggage.

In a report to 1st PCAS chief Senior Superintendent Efren Labiang, aiport policemen said they also intercepted 20 jungle bolos (machetes) in February, though passengers are allowed to carry these machetes as long as they are put in the passengers’ check-in luggage.