MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday clarified that the three airport personnel involved in an alleged tanim-bala (bullet-planting) scheme at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are not employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a state media report, it said that according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the individuals, who have already been dismissed from service, were under the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).

“Clarify ko lang ‘yung mga nahuli sa tanim-bala ay hindi galing sa Immigration. There is a confusion as to sino ‘yung talagang sangkot sa issue na ‘yan at may nakita akong ibang items na immigration po ang may kasalanan o sangkot doon,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters in a chance interview.

“Huwag na po natin dagdagan ang mga issue ng Immigration, but I think it’s just fair enough to clarify that.”

The BI, an attached agency of the DOJ, was initially mentioned in some reports as being linked to the incident.

Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the three OTS personnel will also face administrative charges.

The controversy arose after a 69-year-old passenger shared on social media how she nearly missed her flight to Vietnam after being stopped at the final security checkpoint.

The OTS personnel allegedly halted her for further inspection of her handbag, claiming an X-ray scan detected an object resembling a bullet, which they described as an anting-anting (amulet). However, no bullet was found upon inspection.

Photos and videos taken by the victim and her companions showed the OTS personnel laughing during the commotion while covering their nameplates.