A domestic passenger en route to Puerto Princesa has taken to social media to denounce what she describes as a distressing and unjust airport experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on June 5, an incident that has once again stirred public concern over questionable airport screening protocols reminiscent of the country’s notorious “tanim-bala” controversy.
In a Facebook post, Jackie Ortega Ubaldo recounted the anxiety she and her child endured after being stopped by security officers during bag inspection. Having already checked in online to avoid long queues, Ubaldo said she was preparing to enter the terminal when a female staff member asked, “Ma’am, may pangontra ba kayong dala?”
Caught off guard, she responded, “Anong pangontra? Aanuhin ko naman ’yun?” The officer reportedly smiled and then called for backup.
Soon, two more officers and a police officer arrived. One of them, wearing gloves, checked the scanner, began recording, and pulled out the tray containing her bag and her child’s iPad.
Ubaldo attempted to explain that she had brought home a frying pan by mistake for her child, but was told that what was seen was allegedly something else. Then came the claim: her bag supposedly contained a bullet.
“I told the officer, ‘Wag kayong ganyan, kapwa Pilipino niyo ginaganyan niyo,’” she recalled. “Domestic flight lang ako pauwi ng Puerto, gaganyanin niyo?”
Her bags, including those of her child, were taken down, except for hers. In her account, she began shaking as fear took over. “Halos nanginig buong katawan ko kasi nakikita ko lang sa TV mga ganun pangyayari…”
An older male officer advised her to calm down. After some discussion, they agreed to re-scan her bag. This time, after the scan, the same female officer reportedly said, “Sir, nagpatong lang siguro ’yong bag at iPad.”
No bullet was found. No apology was given.
Though authorities have not linked this incident to any coordinated scam, netizens have expressed concern that Ubaldo’s experience resembles past incidents from the 2015 “tanim-bala” scandal, in which bullets were allegedly planted in passengers’ bags, often resulting in detention or missed flights.
Back then, widespread fear and distrust surrounded the nation’s airports. The controversy triggered Senate hearings, multiple investigations, and even contributed to the resignation of key officials.
For Ubaldo, it’s not merely about the hours lost or the bags mishandled—it’s about the trauma left behind.
“Paano kung may sakit sa puso ang napagdiskitahan ninyo?” she wrote. “Isang maling kilos, isang maling akusasyon—maaari itong mauwi sa trahedya.”
Ubaldo says the incident continues to haunt her.
She still wakes up from sleep screaming, and has felt disconnected since returning home. Her child is now afraid of flying.
They even ended up retrieving the wrong luggage in the commotion.
“Hindi ko nilalahat, pero may mali sa sistema,” she concluded. “Hindi ito basta reklamo. Ito ay babala—na kahit online check-in ka na at akala mong ligtas ka na, maaari ka pa ring maipit sa isang sistema na kulang sa malasakit.”
As of this writing, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) have yet to issue any official statement addressing the incident at Terminal 3. Despite the growing public concern over passenger experiences and the renewed spotlight on airport screening practices, no comment has been made to clarify the protocols that led to the false detection or to assure travelers of steps being taken to prevent similar distress in the future.
Travelers are advised to remain vigilant and to report any questionable or distressing encounters with airport security personnel to the Office for Transportation Security through their official channels.
