① Airport Employee Caught Stealing from Passengers
A scene was captured at Manila’s airport in the Philippines of an employee stealing money from a passenger and then trying to swallow it. The incident occurred on the 24th at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 in Manila. Security officer Irene Moraos had put $300 into his mouth, which he had stolen from a Chinese passenger undergoing departure inspection.
The Chinese passenger realized his money was missing after passing through the security checkpoint. He immediately reported the incident to the airport police. The police launched an investigation and witnessed a suspicious scene through CCTV footage.
The CCTV footage showed airport employee Moraos taking something from his waistband and putting it in his mouth, then continuously drinking water and moving his mouth as if to swallow something. At this time, X-ray screening officer Regino Allan Polante handed water to Moraos.
Furthermore, supervisor Abraham Del Luna also approached Moraos and spoke to him. Philippine investigators stated that Del Luna checked if Moraos had hidden the money well. Ninoy Aquino International Airport issued disciplinary action against them. The authorities are investigating whether they conspired in this crime.
The act of the employee to steal the passenger’s money is unbelievably absurd. According to the Philippine airport authorities, Moraos swallowed the money to avoid getting caught. Transportation Secretary Jaime Batista ordered the Transportation Security Administration to prosecute Moraos.
Local netizens reacted with comments such as, “How many thieves are there in the airport to do this?”, “I was shocked when the airport police asked for money in the past,” “The Philippines is famous for corruption,” and “The Philippines is famous for extortion even without stealing.”
② Security Checkpoint Officers Also Steal Passenger’s Items
This is not the first time that employees at Philippine airports have been caught stealing from passengers.
This is the third incident this year. In March, a security officer at Ninoy Aquino International Airport stole money from a Thai passenger. When the passenger told the security officer that approximately $150 was missing, they did not respond appropriately, claiming that there was no CCTV in the area.
The passenger’s companion told the security officer they had filmed the incident and witnessed the theft.
The security officer took them to a separate area and told them to delete the video in exchange for returning the money. The Thai passenger received the money back after confirming the deletion of the video.
Later, they recovered the video and uploaded it to social media, exposing the security officer’s crime. Following this, numerous accounts of similar experiences at Ninoy Aquino International Airport flooded in. Upon learning of these incidents, the airport announced that they had fired five security officers involved and planned to press charges against them.
Five days after this incident, another security checkpoint officer was caught stealing a Chinese passenger’s watch. The Chinese passenger realized his watch was missing after going through security before boarding his flight. He suspected the security officer as he was wearing the watch until he passed through the checkpoint. Upon checking the CCTV, they confirmed the security officer stealing the watch. The police arrested the security officer.
In response to these continuous incidents at the airport, the Philippine authorities have stopped the employees from wearing jackets. They also ordered the removal of pockets from the uniforms.
③ Setup Crimes Targeting Koreans
Manila’s airport in the Philippines is notorious for ‘setup crimes’ targeting Koreans. This is a type of crime where a trap is set, and then money is demanded in exchange for release. As those in power commit the crime, it’s difficult for those in power to save the commended amount. The most common crime involves secretly placing live ammunition in tourists’ bags at the airport or hotels and demanding money to resolve the issue.
Travel guides also trap tourists and locals together, falsely accuse them of underage prostitution, and demand a large settlement. Setup crimes are meticulously planned, making it difficult to prove innocence and explain the situation. There are cases where passports are seized, and individuals are detained. Even local police frequently frame people for crimes. The fact that such incidents occur at the airport is shocking in itself.
To avoid getting involved in crimes, it is crucial to manage your belongings meticulously and not touch any prohibited items found in your bag. By doing so, you can leave fingerprints and find yourself in a disadvantageous situation.
By. Han Mia
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