Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 1) — An airport security personnel is involved in yet another incident of theft in the country’s main gateway.
The Office of the Transportation Security (OTS) said an airport security screening officer was arrested on Wednesday after stealing from a foreign passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
It said Valeriano Diaz Ricaplaza took the watch of a Chinese passenger while the latter was going through the X-ray machine for security screening.
The OTS said the officer initially denied the crime, but a review of the security footage showed him taking the foreigner’s timepiece.
Ricaplaza is in the custody of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group for further questioning.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) denounced the incident and strongly condemned such “unscrupulous, illicit, and selfish acts.”
“Theft violates the trust and integrity required of public servants, and has serious negative consequences for the airport, its stakeholders, and the country as a whole,” MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said.
This is the second incident in the past two weeks involving erring OTS personnel.
On Feb. 22, a female security screening officer was caught on video taking money from a Thai tourist worth 20,000 yen or roughly P8,000 then giving it to a colleague who was manning the X-ray machine at the NAIA Terminal 3.
Five screening officers were later relieved from duty. They are expected to face administrative and criminal charges.
Its statement said MIAA had ordered facility changes, such as the installation of cameras and removal of the film covering the glass panels at transit areas, after the incident.
Chiong also ordered the strict enforcement of MIAA’s service standard policies for employees of government and non-government agencies assigned at the NAIA Complex, including prohibiting security personnel from interacting directly with passengers, from bringing bags into their area of assignment, and ordered a “no pocket policy” for their uniforms.
