As criticism mounts over police involvement and handling of the ‘tanim bala’ bullet planting scheme that has seen a spike in number of apprehensions at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the chief of police’s Aviation Security Unit has been relieved Monday.
Aviation Security Group head Chief Superintendent Pablo Francis Balagtas confirmed the relief of Senior Superintendent Ricardo Layug, Jr. who will be replaced by Senior Superintendent Adolfo Samala.
Layug has been chief of the Aviation Security Unit of NCR since late December 2014 and was appointed to the post a few months later. Balagtas said the relief of Layug is “part of a rotation” in the police ranks.
The Aviation Security Group has been under heavy criticism after a series of cases of ammunition found in the bags of passengers going through routine security checks at NAIA. The group steps in once personnel of the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) find suspected prohibited items inside passenger luggage. OTS staff has also been investigated in their alleged involvement in the scam which gathered local and international media attention.
While Balagtas stopped short of saying Layug is involved in the purported bullet planting scheme, he said personnel from NCR aviation police are also currently under scrutiny.
Layug’s deputy has also been relieved, and seven personnel from the Aviation Security Group have since been removed from their posts for failure to report on incidence of intercepted ammunition in airports.