Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — She may look frail and physically weak, but she’s strong-willed to make those liable for planting a bullet in her luggage pay.
Salvacion Cortabista, a 75-year-old woman who claims to be the most recent victim of the ‘tanim bala’ [bullet-planting] scam, filed criminal charges on Tuesday (May 3) against airport security personnel in relation to the incident.
The cases were filed against Niño Mamba, Ferdinand Morales, and Fatti Go — personnel of the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Cortabista’s lawyer Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta said the airport personnel conspired to plant a bullet inside Cortabista’s handbag.
“Base sa mga pangyayari ay may nagtanim talaga ng bala at tinuturo nila yung wheelchair attendant, yun lamang ang may access sa bag ni lola,” Acosta said. [Based on their narration, there’s really someone who planted a bullet and they are pointing at the wheelchair attendant, who has the only access to grandma’s bag.]
Also watch: NAIA wheelchair aide tagged in tanim bala
Acosta said the purpose of the airport personnel was to extort more than P50,000 from Cortabista.
“Kasi may mga narinig sila lola at lolo na di umano ay halaga na sinasabi na katumbas nung bala. So ang dating sa kanila siyempre yun ay extortion,” said Acosta.
[Grandma and grandpa heard someone saying how much the bullet is allegedly worth. So their impression is, there’s extortion.]
Last April 19, the Cortabista couple were supposed to fly to the United States to visit their daughter and to get medical attention for Salvacion at the same time.
A live bullet, however, was allegedly detected inside Cortabista’s handbag at the final x-ray screening machine.
Acosta said the elderly couple have never dealt with firearms or ammunitions in the past. Acosta pointed out that the couple are already in their twilight years, and it makes no sense for them to bring ammunition to the airport.
Namba, Morales, and Go are now facing charges of planting of evidence, robbery with intimidation, and unjust vexation.
All the accused, meanwhile, refused to comment on the charges filed against them.
Also read: Assert your rights: 8 things to keep in mind as an airline passenger
