OTS chief denies ‘laglag-bala’ syndicate operating inside NAIA

(Updated 4:25 p.m.) Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Roland Recomono on Thursday denied that a syndicate was behind the so-called "laglag bala" extortion racket at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport  (NAIA).

In his report on "Balitanghali," Jun Veneracion quoted Recomono as saying that although there is an "opportunity" for unscrupulous individuals to do something illegal inside NAIA, it doesn't mean that a syndicate is already operating there.

Recomono said he welcomes an investigation into the matter.

"It affects yung security kasi, if there is really a syndicate. That's why we really have to go to the bottom of this, find out if that particular report is correct or not. Kasi we cannot simply take it sitting down, na merong ganito," he said in the report.

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Office of the President (OP) has yet to receive a report indicating the existence of an extortion syndicate victimizing the elderly and overseas Filipino workers at the NAIA

Meanwhile, Recomono said the alleged "laglag bala" extortion scheme, which put 11 of his screeners under a fact-finding investigation, is now being used as an alibi by persons who were caught with ammunition at NAIA.

He appealed to the public not to judge OTS personnel, adding he has received some information that some of them are being bullied inside and outside the airport.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado had earlier denied the existence of syndicates in NAIA, but acknowledged the presence of "opportunists" in the airport.

"So far we have not established any facts to show syndicates planting [bullets]," he said, adding airport personnel who will be found involved in such a racket "will be pursued."  — Rie Takumi with Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News