The reports of “tanim bala” in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are shocking. The latest victim of the scam, victimizing both Filipino and foreign travelers whose bags or luggage are suddenly planted with a bullet that gets them into real trouble, was an OFW who was about to return to Hong Kong for work.
She was crying hard when she was arrested and handcuffed, but was later released by order of the prosecutor because the bullet submitted as evidence was not the same as the one recorded at the airport inspection. After her, a Japanese tourist who was about to return to Japan was caught with the same contraband.
These incidents are kind of mysterious. They happen to people at the international airport just as they are about to leave the country. Usually, a single bullet is suddenly found in their luggage. The trend has raised a public outcry and even senators are condemning the incidents and blame airport personnel. Now the national government is being pressured to investigate for fear the reports would damage the tourism industry.
Lately OFWs have been seen at the airport with their luggage completely wrapped in security plastic to guard against any attempt to plant bullets.
That’s so sad. It shows that we are no longer safe in our own airport. The Aquino government should investigate and punish whoever is responsible for these stunts.
Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose Abaya should immediately act on the complaints. The airport is under his office. He should run after the culprits. Maybe there’s a syndicate behind the incidents as alleged by Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Many are hoping these episodes of “‘tanim bala” will finally stop and the culprits land in prison.
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Finally voter’s registration and the taking of biometrics has come to an end .
October 30, Saturday, was the deadline. The past few days saw long lines of applicants in Comelec offices all over the country. Unfortunately the deadline has no extension despite requests for more time.
I think it is correct for the Comelec not to extend the deadline in order to teach late registrants a lesson. Next time, people would be vigilant in performing their duties as citizens.
The Comelec has conducted voter’s registration since early last year and only a few registrants came to their offices. But as the deadline approached, we saw long lines of people wanting to sign up.
This is bad behavior for Filipinos who take their sweet time to comply, show up at the last minute, then complain about the inconvenience of the procedures.
The time has come to change our attitude in favor of becoming better citizens, responsible in the exercise of our rights. One of the rights many Filipinos have been slack about is the right to vote. Many still abuse the right of suffrage and make money out of it.
Now that the election process is automated, chances of cheating in the actual balloting are nil. Politicians take advantage by buying votes ahead of time to secure their poll victory.
Many voters are willing to sell. People then forget that by doing this, they could no longer hold their public officials accountable for their actions later.
Why does this still happen? Because votes were already paid for. In contrast, when one votes for a candidate for no other consideration than trust in his or her abilities, the individual who is elected can be pressed to account for his performance in office later.
Those who sell their votes waive their right to demand that an elected official do his duties for the public good.