The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the filing of appropriate charges against airport security personnel allegedly linked to the case of missing cash belonging to a foreigner at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
According to the DOTr, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has instructed the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to promptly initiate legal proceedings against the security screening personnel implicated in the incident on September 8 at Terminal 1 of NAIA.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has taken decisive action in addressing the alleged involvement of security personnel in the theft of cash from a Chinese passenger’s hand carried bag at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Bautista has directed Transportation Undersecretary for Legal Atty. Reinier Yebra to assist in filing the necessary complaints against individuals suspected of being involved in this incident.
Furthermore, Bautista has authorized the imposition of the maximum penalty on those found guilty.
The investigation into the alleged involvement of OTS (Office of Transportation Security) personnel in the theft incident at NAIA reportedly began after CCTV footage showed a female personnel putting something in her mouth and drinking water.
After a traveler complained that his $300 in cash had gone missing, OTS officials performed a check of all workers.
Airport personnel who swallowed stolen $300 to face charges – DOTr
“Nagconduct ng usual baggage inspection, and then later on yun pong ating pasahero ay bumalik sa security screening checkpoint to raise his complaint nga po na nawawalan nga po daw siya ng pera,” said OTS Public Information Officer Kim Marquez.
They discovered a 28-year-old contractual employee ingesting an item after reviewing CCTV footage. Officials are currently looking into whether the item was the lost money.
“Kung makikita po doon sa CCTV, isang beses lang po yung ano, one time lang po niya isinubo ang object,” said Marquez.
“Base po sa CCTV, meron din pong personnel sa kanyang tabi. Tinitingnan natin kung iyan nga pong sinubo niya ay yung perang nawawala, na sinasabing nawawala nung pasahero,” she also said.
Bautista expressed irritation and dismay about the occurrence at NAIA, which he was attempting to sell to potential foreign investors interested in operating and maintaining the country’s key gateway.
The OTS is working with the PNP Aviation Security Group to file criminal charges and will help the complainant if he chooses to pursue the issue.
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