MANILA - Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday denied allegations that the "tanim-bala" or "bullet-planting" modus in Philippine airports has returned, following incidents of passengers getting caught with ammunition in their luggage this month.

In a press briefing at the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) in Pasay, Dizon and OTS Administrator Arthur Bisnar presented the three alleged tanim-bala cases that have gone viral on social media recently. 

Based on the initial investigations of the OTS and Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, they said it was likely that the passengers had accidentally packed the bullets.

“We don’t believe that tanim bala is back… Aaminin natin kung may problema, aaminin natin pag may pagkakamali, aaksyunan po natin yan. Pero kapag may ganitong sitwasyon na klaro namang hindi nagkamali ang ating OTS peronnel, kailangan din nating ipakita yan. Unfair naman po sa kanila,” said Dizon.

He said this should also serve as a reminder to the public to be wary of accepting packages to bring along during their travels.

BULLET INSIDE CAN OF BAGOONG

The lastest case was that of a 72-year old woman flying from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga last March 27, 2025.

She was found to have brought bullet hidden inside a sealed can of bagoong or fermented shrimp paste.

In the video taken during the inspection of her luggage, the senior citizen can be heard explaining that she was just asked to bring the canned good as a favor.

“Hindi ko alam na may ganyang nilagay, basta ipinadala,” she said.

She was eventually allowed to fly to Taiwan after the bullet was confiscated by the police. 

For Dizon, the incident proves one thing— “Hindi po ang mga personnel ng OTS ang naglagay, nagtanim, nagplant nitong balang ito… Inamin po niya na may nagpadala sa kanya na isang lata,” he said.

OFW WITH 4 BULLETS IN HIS BAG

A male passenger headed to the Cayman Islands for work was detained at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after getting caught with four bullets inside his bag last March 24, 2025.

Bisnar said there were no irregularities observed in the actions of the airport security personnel.

“Ang mismong naglo-load sa x-ray o conveyor belt ay mismong pasahero, hindi OTS. Hindi po hinahawakan ng ating mga personnel ang mga bagahe. Pag ito ay dumaan na sa x-ray at may nakita, doon palang hahawakan at ikokontrol yung bagahe for manual inspection,” he explained.

Bisnar noted that the suspect also admitted to having gone to a firing range last year.

“Nag-firing po sila kasama yung employer niya sa Subic Bay, Zambales so doon pa lang po, yung posibilidad na naiwan lang niya yung bala sa kanyang sling bag ay napakataas,” he said.

He is being charged for illegal possession of firearms and for violating the election gun ban.

But in an interview with ABS-CBN News, a relative of the suspect refuted the claims of the authorities, saying their family hopes that further investigation will reveal that the bullets weren’t his.

SENIOR CITIZEN CARRYING A BULLET 

In a separate incident at NAIA Terminal 3 on March 20, another senior citizen was temporarily held by authorities after being flagged for carrying a bullet inside her luggage. 

Her niece, Sachie Saul, posted about what happened on social media, claiming it was tanim-bala.

“Posibleng porter… kasi imposible namang gawin ng tita ko yun kasi may mga anak siyang nagwowork sa Immigration, alam na alam niya yung rules,” Saul told ABS-CBN News in a phone call.

“Siguro naging target ng mga naglalagay kasi senior citizen na,” she added.

Dizon has vowed to also review the CCTV footage from other parts of the airport.

“Iinvestigate pa natin, titignan pa natin ang CCTV footages sa buong airport kung nasingitan ba,” he said.

Should they find airport employees at fault, Dizon said he will not hesitate to fire them, like how he sacked several OTS personnel earlier this March after they wrongly accused a senior citizen tourist of bringing an empty bullet shell.

“Yun pong mga ospiyal na involved (doon ay) wala na po sa OTS. Kinasuhan na, may procedure tayo dyan, pero hinding hindi na sila makakabalik sa OTS,” he said.

Bisnar meanwhile added that travelers themselves should also watch their bags when coming to the airport.

“Importante po na the moment na bumaba kayo ng sasakyan papuntang airport hanggang makarating kayo sa boarding gate, wag na wag niyong pababayaan yung mga bagahe niyo at bantayan niyo pong mabuti. It’s a personal responsibility,” he said.

CONSEQUENCES

The DOTr and OTS are appealing to the public to be extra careful in packing their things and to not even attempt to bring prohibited items to their flight.

Dizon warned that, even if they do get through Philippine airport authorities, they face worse consequences abroad.

“Bawal po magdala ng live ammunition sa eroplano. Bawal po yan sa lahat ng bansa… Kulong, milyong piso ang multa. Diyos ko kawawa naman po kayo,” he said.

“Five to 10 years imprisonment at lima o anim na beses kayong papaluin ng cane sa Singapore,” he added. 

“Sana naman po hindi kasi nakakasira po ito, hindi lang sa mga kababyan nating naaapektuhan nito. Nasisira po yung reputasyon ng bansa. Hirap na hirap na po ang Pilipinas, mga kababayan natin. Sana wag na kayong gumawa ng ganitong mga nakakasira lang,” he said.

Dizon also urged the public to keep reporting problems they encounter at airports, whether tanim bala-related or not, vowing to investigate each case.

Dizon said he believes transparency is the only way to earn the public’s trust that it will not happen again.

The tanim-bala scheme at the NAIA during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III was a huge scandal that exposed alleged extortion activities the airport and forced drastic changes in security protocols.