Elderly woman sues 3 airport workers for ‘tanim-bala’

Travelers have their luggage wrapped in plastic for P160 a piece as security against the “tanim bala” racket at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (INQUIRER)

A CRIMINAL complaint has been filed before the Pasay Prosecutors Office against a wheelchair attendant and two members of the Office of the Transportation Security (OTS) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1 for allegedly planting a bullet in the bag of 75-year-old Salvacion Cortabista, who was supposed to be on her way to the United States on April 19 to seek medical treatment along with her 78-year-old husband.

Facing a complaint for robbery with intimidation, unjust vexation and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act are wheelchair attendant Niño Namba, OTS personnel Ferdinand B. Morales and Fatti Dame M. Go.

“Namba, Morales and Go conspired to plant a gun bullet inside Salvacion’s handbag to extort money from her and inconvenience her,” the complaint stated.

Cortabista is assisted by Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta.

Cortabista said in her affidavit that because of her and her husband’s age, they were given an attendant (Mamba) to help them.

At the final x-ray, she said she heard the airport personnel tell them that they had detected a prohibited item inside her bag. She identified Morales and Go as the personnel at the screening machine.

After the bullet was discovered, Cortabista quoted Morales as saying, “‘Mahina ang P50,000 dyan,’ clearly intimating that they should pay in order for Salvacion to be able to board the aircraft.”

“More importantly, conspiracy between and among the respondents may be inferred from the fact that the ‘scheme’ of extorting money from the complainant would not have been possible were it not for the participation of each and every respondent.”