Elderly Filipina Charged with Carrying Bullet Released
MANILA: The 71-year-old woman, who was apprehended for carrying a bullet inside Ninoy Aquino International Airport, was released after it was concluded that Antonina Agustin had no intention to possess the bullets.
ABS CBN News quoted Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta as saying that Agustin was ordered to be released by the fiscal department.
Agustin had reportedly gone to the airport to receive relatives when two bullets were detected inside her pouch during the screening at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 3.
Upon inspection, the bullets were discovered to be from caliber 9 and 38 mm pistols, the report said.
Acosta believes that Agustin was a victim of the alleged ”tanim-bala” scam at the airport. ”No intent to possess… laglag-bala din ito,” she reportedly said.
Acosta further said the PAO was able to secure the release of 12 other people apprehended for carrying bullets in NAIA.
The 12 people include Melody Valdez, a Qatar-bound OFW who missed her flight after being apprehended for bullet possession; Santiago Peñaflorida, a Filipino-American bound for Los Angeles; Milagrosa Cadiente, who admitted to bringing to an airport a bullet she considers as an amulet; and Gloria Ortinez, a long-time Hong Kong overseas Filipino worker, the report said.
Also released were Rufina Cruz, Mildred Bitog, Ma. Josephine Rabano, and Shine Eñola. The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier referred for further investigation the separate criminal complaints against them, it was pointed out.
Fifteen OTS personnel are being probed for their alleged role in the alleged scam and have been placed under restricted status, OTS deputy administrator Roberto Villanueva was quoted as saying by ABS-CBN News.
Villanueva also reportedly said the alleged extortion scheme has yet to be confirmed, pending the results of a probe by the National Investigation Bureau (NBI), which may be released after a month.