Philippine airport worker caught swallowing US$300 in bills allegedly taken from Chinese tourist
- A traveller lost US$300 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, prompting security officials to question personnel and inspect surveillance footage
- CCTV footage showed a screener stuffing some cash into her mouth, reportedly taken from a visitor’s hand-carried bag at the security scanner
A supervisor on September 8 reported that a traveller lost US$300 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1, prompting the Office of Transportation Security to question all personnel and inspect the surveillance footage at the facility.
CCTV footage showed the screener stuffing the cash into her mouth and then covering it with a handkerchief, seemingly to conceal the evidence. She reportedly took the money from the visitor’s hand-carried bag when the person was undergoing an X-ray scan.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and senators on Thursday expressed dismay at the incident, saying it would have a negative impact on investors and tourists.
Bautista added legal and administrative actions will be initiated against the worker, who claimed that she ingested chocolates, not the missing banknotes.
He also authorised the imposition of the “maximum penalty” on those who will be found guilty to show his department’s determination to rid the NAIA as well as other agencies of scallywags.
Officials said four screening officers, including the woman, were placed under suspension while the investigation into the case continues.