Filipino bishop chides government over airport scam

Bullet-planting extortion scheme targets overseas workers and travelers.

Philippines:  A Filipino bishop chided the government for failure to stop an airport scam that targets overseas workers and travelers.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said as the tanim-bala scam continues, it reveals the lack of compassion and concern for overseas Filipino workers or for those who visit their homeland.

"We urge the airport authorities, and the government, to put an end to this tanim-bala scandal once and for all," said Bishop Santos, who chairs the bishops' Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

As part of the scam, a bullet is planted on unsuspecting travelers, presumably by airport security personnel, in order to extort money from the victim.

Bishop Santos said overseas workers and traveling Filipinos should not have to experience the anxiety and fear the scam inspires.

An investigation last year by the Philippine Bureau of Investigation resulted in charges against six airport security personnel.

Source: UCAN