MANILA -- Filipino travelers gripped by a "bullet-planting" scheme at one of its busiest airports are combatting it with DIY measures, from shrink wrapping to sticking warning notes on their bags addressed to security officers.
In recent weeks, reports came to light of people getting arrested over bullets discovered in their luggage at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). They alleged that they had no knowledge of the bullets, but security personnel asked for them to pay a fine -- or face criminal charges for possessing firearms.
With reports coming from both foreign and local travelers, Filipinos are trying to prevent themselves from falling prey to possible bullet-planting -- or “laglag bala” -- sometimes to dramatic effect. In addition to wrapping, they're also including notes.
Some try intimidation:
"I don't mean to be rude but don't touch my things" hahah! Grabe! Akala ko NAIA 3 ang pinakamagandang airport :( so sad #NAIA #LaglagBala #Teamkerbell A photo posted by Janina Leonor (@626ina) on Nov 2, 2015 at 6:31pm PST
Mine and my beau's backpack #NAIA #LaglagBala #Beware #NagIingatLangDinPo #Philippines #PhilippineTravel #OnlyInThePhilippines #EvenLocalsGoParanoidOnAirTravels And one kuya also took a photo of this, and said "nakakainis din kasi" (non-verbatim) A photo posted by Cindy Jubilee (@cindyjubilee) on Nov 1, 2015 at 4:20pm PST
Let's go! #laglagbala #tanimbala A photo posted by Raymond Britanico (@iammondee) on Nov 2, 2015 at 3:39am PST
Others have opted for more of an emotional appeal. This person writes that he loves his family, he is not dumb, and there are no bullets in his bag:
tama! even domestic or international flight kapag aalis ako ganito gagawin ko at picpicturan ko kse baka tanggalin din nila yan nilagay ko...nagka idea ako hahaha madam oh @akosibridj #kathniel #laglagbala A photo posted by i am dors (@ladydorswacky) on Nov 1, 2015 at 4:13am PST
This message addresses the bullet planters by the media name of their scam, “laglag bala,” before going on to argue that they should feel for the people who practically work themselves to death in an effort to stay afloat:
#laglagbala #naia lumaban kayo ng patas! #photofromafriend #canadabound A photo posted by dom rox (@domrocabo) on Oct 31, 2015 at 5:07pm PDT
Other travelers are going with a thick combination of tape, plastic, cellophane and other materials in an effort to make their bags “bulletproof":
Have a flight bound for Tuguegarao Isabela to serenade the candidates of mis cabatuan 2015 Made some countermeasures against #TanimBala #laglagbala #bulletScam #NAIA ✈️ A photo posted by Ronnie Liang ️ ® (@ronnieliang) on Nov 3, 2015 at 5:05pm PST
Nakakahiya. #NAIA #LaglagBala #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines A photo posted by Joma Vicario (@jomavicario) on Nov 3, 2015 at 12:06am PST
Singapore bound! Prevention is better than cure. lol #laglagbala #tanimbala #diy #54pesos A photo posted by Jeff C (@zzcabaj) on Nov 3, 2015 at 12:28am PST
Paranoid. :) #laglagbala A photo posted by Jan Vince Lim (@janvincelim) on Nov 3, 2015 at 5:34pm PST
How my #Delsey looked when I flew from the #Philippines to #Canada #2yearsago #clingwrap #OCD #OC #bulletproof #laglagbala #tanimbala #tanimbalainternationalairport #naia #ofw #pinoy #filipino #cebuano #bisaya #bisdak #proudbisdak #anniversary #happyanniversary A photo posted by Glenn Mauring (@glenndmauring) on Nov 1, 2015 at 12:03pm PST
Though it takes considerable effort to wrap all your bags in a makeshift shield of tape and plastic, many travelers feel like doing so is the only reasonable way that they can protect themselves.
How to prevent Laglag Bala: Get a lawyer and let the police open the luggage, or wrap your luggage in layers of plastic.— Tracy Iquiña (@si3Cngapala) October 30, 2015
wrapping all my luggage in plastic wrap and duct tape before going back to the middle east because fook u laglag bala gang and naia— Pen (@pnmzn) October 30, 2015
Protect yourself against Laglag Bala. Wrap your luggage in a garbage bag and tie it up. Be watchful at the scanner. pic.twitter.com/2h610g8JLI— jonathan (@bedjok041) October 29, 2015
Passenger applies plastic wrap to protect against LAGLAG BALA Modus at airport @dwiz882 @iamalexsantos pic.twitter.com/rQ5fczrGfY— raoul esperas (@raoulesperas) November 1, 2015
All these efforts, however, may only be creating a false sense of security for travelers. A bullet was recently found in the luggage of a 65-year-old woman, who had gone to great lengths to secure her belongings, including wrapping her son’s bag in plastic and securing her own with a padlock.
However, she had neglected to protect her bag’s outside pocket, which is where the bullet was found, suggesting that there is little in the way to stop a determined scammer.
NAIA has a plastic wrapping station, which offers its services at P160 ($3.40) per bag. It has seen a surge in business since news of the scam broke.