The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) launched an information campaign on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to remind travelers that seemingly harmless items such as “anting-anting” and bullets kept as souvenirs remain prohibited in airports.
According to OTS, the campaign seeks to prevent passengers from unintentionally violating security rules, particularly those who carry religious charms, amulets, or bullets as souvenirs or lucky charms.
OTS Administrator Gilberto Cruz said the drive also aims to dispel the public association of airport screening with the “tanim bala” controversy years ago.
“As much as possible, we are removing that notion, some of them are just accidents,” Cruz said.
Cruz added that screeners intercept around four to five passengers daily carrying ammunition, though profiling shows that most cases are unintentional.
“Those caught carrying ammunition often do so unintentionally, sometimes they just borrowed a bag, or it came from a shooting range where the same bag was used.”
Confiscated items are turned over to the Philippine National Police before passengers are allowed to board their flights.