OTS on fire anew as another theft incident uncovered at NAIA-1

As a video of two US-TSA screening officers taking things from bags in trays lined up at the x-ray machine went viral over the weekend, another theft incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 has been uncovered.

A press release from the Office for Transportation Security  (OTS) came out on Monday afternoon, confirming the incident involving one of their security screening officers (SSO) at NAIA. But the issue began circulating in social media group chats as early as last week.

Notably, the press release was also issued after a member of the Airport Press Club (APC) confirmed with the OTS public information office that such information was true. The said release did not contain vital details of the incident, referring to when, where, and how the alleged theft happened.

Information revealed that the incident happened as early as 8 September 2023 at the NAIA Terminal 1. After going through the final security check, a departing passenger who is a foreign national reportedly complained of having lost US$300 in cash and was creating a commotion about the incident.

The alleged theft was reportedly committed by one of the OTS security screening officers at that time, a female, while the passenger was passing through the final security check at the said terminal.

It can be recalled that six months ago 22 February 2023), five personnel of the OTS assigned at the NAIA Terminal 2 were suspended after two videos of them went viral on social media, as they were shown taking money from a transiting Thai tourist identified as Kitja Thabthim. The amount involved was 40,000 yen.

A few days later, another screening officer was caught on CCTV stealing a watch of a Chinese passenger at the NAIA Terminal 1.

Passenger Sun Yuhong complained that his watch was missing from his bag after he was screened by Valeriano Ricaplaza Jr., age 31. Ricaplaza was later nabbed by members of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.