Recently, outbound passengers have been apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and have fallen victim to the tanim-bala (planting bullets) scam.

A 65-year old woman on her way to Singapore to watch her nephew play soccer1a 56-year old domestic helper bound for Hong Kong to go back to work2, and an 18-year old choir member on her way to South Korea for a competition were some of the victims of the scandal.

Activities that jeopardize the safety and security of the public are clearly unacceptable. We must build a secure, orderly, and just nation for our tourists, foreign and local investors, and, most importantly, our own citizens.

Clearly, a scam that is unsupportive of our efforts to raise government service standards for the Filipino people should be stopped immediately. As investigations have been ordered, it is also imperative to look at policy proposals and interventions that fully address the issue.

The Iwas Tanim Bala Bill aims to decriminalize acquisition, possession and carriage of three bullets or less in the country and shall not constitute as a criminal offense under this Act. The measure also aims to make security efforts more efficient and to enable security stakeholders to focus on real and grave threats.

Let us continue refining our policies into those that will truly serve our people, especially the common Filipino, and effectively continue the fight to eradicate lawlessness in the country.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of the bill is earnestly sought.

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