TANIM-BALA: HOW TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE

By: VERA Law

1. What is the laglag/tanim bala scheme?

The Laglag/Tanim Bala Scheme is usually perpetrated upon entering the airport. This scheme involves several aviation security personnel with the assistance and connivance of spotters. Basically, the scheme commences when an aviation security officer calls out the passenger after the latter’s baggage passes through security/x-ray check, and say that a bullet was spotted in his/her bag. The aviation security officer will, thus, insist on a manual search of the bag. During search, the aviation security officer, or someone in conspiracy with him, will discreetly place a bullet in the bag being searched. After “finding” the bullet, the passenger will be escorted to the security office for questioning. At this point, the passenger is harassed with threats of imprisonment, delay in boarding and the possibility of missing his/her intended flight. In order to cease harassment, passengers are constrained to pay the aviation security officer and his conspirators a hefty amount of money.

2. How to avoid the scheme?

As mentioned, constant vigilance is of utmost importance in order to avoid falling prey to the scheme. Thus:

• Do not bring necklaces with bullets as pendants, or those using bullets as charms or amulets.

• Be cautious of your all your bags and luggage. Do not leave any of your bags unattended and/or unsupervised.

• Devote full attention to the supervision of your things while undergoing security check. Avoid entertaining phone calls, texting, and even conversing with your companions.

• Do not let anyone touch your bags. Avoid using the services of porters as they might are possible conspirators.

• If possible, use hard-case luggage. Hard-case luggage usually have no external pockets, thus, it minimizes the risk of being victimized.

• Always lock your luggage.• You can have your bag covered in cling wrap.

3. What to do when you are victimized? In the unfortunate event that you, your family and/or friends are victimized, please follow these instructions:

• Stay calm, do not panic!• Call your lawyer.• As much as possible, never agree to have your bag opened

without any other witnesses.

In any case:

• If an aviation security officer tells the passenger that there is a bullet in the bag, ask said officer to run it through the x-ray machine again and prove his accusations in the x-ray monitor. You should take videos and/or photographs of the x-ray monitor for documentation purposes. Make sure to get the name of the aviation security officer making such accusation.

• Should the aviation security officer insist on a manual search, document the whole search. Make sure that the hands of the person searching are empty and limit the search to just a single officer (there may be a chance that a lot of officers are present to confuse you, increasing likelihood of inserting a bullet in your bag). Use the videos on mobile phones and call for witnesses for documentation.

• If a bullet is indeed retrieved, do not touch the bullet, and make sure that the searching officer does not tamper with the same. Rather, ask the police to carefully handle the evidence and subject the same to finger print testing. Document also the way that the bullet is handled (whether it was touched by the searching officer and where was it placed), what it looks like, and serial number and/or distinguishing marks, if any.

• If fingerprint yields negative results, you may file a criminal case against the aviation security personnel and his conspirators, if identified. Remember that under Section 38 of RA 10591, a public officer will be punished with a penalty of reclusion perpetua for incriminating an innocent person.

• If, for some reason, fingerprint testing results in a positive outcome, do not panic. As long as you did not bring said bullet, you have a strong defense. At this point, however, your documentation of the search becomes vital as this can be presented as evidence to show that you did not bring said bullet.