Planting is never fun

Going to Manila via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for innumerable occasions attuned me to the routines, including the ostensibly inescapable inconveniences-an apparent difference from the airport of origin. At NAIA, from the presence of travelers, waiting for their connecting flights and are just lying on the sides or corners, to the queuing for a ride, is just unbearable. And no reason, it became the worst airport in the world. And just recently because of some initial improvements, it somehow elevated a few notches from being the worst. However such a slight climb didn't register on the consciousness of the travelling public as it is currently flawed over by recent controversy.

The (literally, bullet planting) controversy has gotten the attention of the world especially when after international media outfits like Time magazine, BBC and Sydney Morning Herald have covered the alleged bullet planting incidents. Involving airport employees the incident is meant to extort money from the victims by putting bullets on the luggage and for the victims to be spared from arrest, they would just resort to settling the matter over a certain amount.   

Appallingly, according to a whistleblower that such modus operandi persisted for the past 20 years, but even worn-out closed-circuit television cameras installed at all the airport terminals fail to detect this unscrupulous operation. Pathetically even if this has long occurred and only now that it has reached to the attention of the international media, only then that presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that such allegations must be validated first before the government takes the necessary long-term actions. Does this mean that the government has been oblivious for the past years? 

Transportation officials said 6,000 cases have been recorded since 2012. And for the safety and security of the travelling public, this has to be dealt with the enforcement of the law. However when this laudable aim is used as a way for the airport personnel to extort from the passengers who do not want the hassle as they want to proceed to their next destinations, is entirely a different story.

We just cannot completely discredit the horrifying stories of a 65-year-old grandmother who was kept from flying to see his grandson play football in Singapore, the 34-year-old housewife whose cancer-stricken grandmother could not be comforted due to the traumatic experience of the thought that she could go to jail, an OFW who works with integrity, leaving her beloved family and country.

So now because of the government's inability to do drastic moves, the passengers themselves are taking initiatives not to fall into the trap. It's somehow ridiculous to see but you can see plastic-wrapped luggage of passengers to prevent anyone from planting bullets in their baggage. No less than the United Nations advised their staff members to secure their bags by wrapping them in plastic. It is truly an evident indication of lost of trust and confidence. 

And no matter how the former Interior Secretary and presidential candidate Mar Roxas raised the possibility that the controversy may be part of a demolition job against the government days leading to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit in Metro Manila still individual experiences of the victims cannot be downplayed. And just by saying that it is the responsibility of the bullet carrier and not of the government misses the whole point of the controversy. This indeed requires drastic moves as this for sure would impact Philippine tourism by sowing fear among foreigners using Philippine airports and eroding public trust in law enforcers. 

And while the investigations are conducted here and there, our hope that all these would end up to finding out the truth: is there indeed a widespread syndicate-and prosecuting those involved in the controversy.

Once more, it has proven the power of the media to bring a crucial concern to the general attention-and to the concerned authorities. Victims are bold enough to come forward and tell horrendous stories in the hands of their very own people.

Once again the need for people who are committed and true to their profession remains a recurrent-and a present call.