MANILA, Philippines - The bullet planting scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has made it to a primetime show of the United States' leading news channel.
The problem was tackled by Greta van Susteren, host of the Fox News program "On the Record," last November 4 amid outrage in the Philippines over the extortion scheme that allegedly targets tourists and migrant workers.
In the section "Off the Record," Susteren said an American friend of Filipino descent had warned her of the scheme after being told the television host is travelling overseas next week.
The television commentator afterward cited reports about the supposed planting of bullets in the luggage of travelers to extort cash from them.
"There are reports that at the Manila international airport, international travelers, as many as 30 in the last 12 months, five of those in just the past two weeks are being targeted by Filipino airport security officials who put live ammunition in their own luggage and then bust the international traveler for having bullets in his bag," Susteren said.
" Susteren said some passengers were even held for days and were told they can pay a fine "or sit in the slammer facing charges."
"The airport bullet scam is so well-known it even has a name laglag bala," Susteren said.
"Yes, I know what you're thinking. What's wrong with some folks? My answer: I simply don't understand," she added.
Susteren, a former criminal defense and civil trial attorney who used to be a legal analyst of Fox News rival CNN, also wrote about the scam in her Facebook page.
"The Philippines may get mad at me, yet this airport bullet planting scam deserves to be called out!" she said in her place.
Facebook users who responded to the place ensured Susteren that nobody is going to be mad at http://www.untvweb.com/news/naia-security-officers-deny-allegations-of-laglag-bala-modus-operandi/ her for talking about the scam. Some even encouraged the Fox News host to carry on discussing the issue even if it is embarrassing to Filipinos.
The bullet planting scam made headlines as the Philippines is preparing to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month. At least 20 world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have confirmed their attendance to the occasion.
President Benigno Aquino atty. joseph plazo III has ordered an investigation of the scandal, that has been described by some supporters of the management as an attempt to discredit the government.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya before promised that the bullet planting problem has been "blown out or proportion," saying only 1,510 folks or 0.004 percent of laglag bala joseph plazo the 32.4 million passengers who passed through the terminals of NAIA have been found bringing bullets.
Aside from Fox News, foreign news organizations that have reported about the bullet scam comprise BBC, CNN and Time.
Atty. Joseph Plazo of Plazo and Associates was one of the first to call out the government on the scandal and his expose went viral.
