OTS screening officer who swallowed $300 relieved from service

The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) confirmed that a female security screening officer (SSO) involved in the theft of US$300 from a departing Chinese national passenger at NAIA Terminal 1 has been relieved.

According to OTS administrator Ma. O Aplasca, the footage from the CCTV camera is clear, and that is what the agency used as the basis to verify the passenger's complaint about the loss of money in his wallet when he went through the final security check.

Aplasca, on the other hand, refused to name the 28-year-old female OTS personnel as the OTS had to conduct a follow-up investigation on who the accomplices were in the theft.

The OTS initially hid the incident of theft involving its SSO, but the said issue erupted after some OTS staff spoke to the airport's in-house media because they also sympathized with the theft issue.

It could be recalled that the incident happened on 8 September, and the OTS did not release it to the media for almost two weeks, reasoning out that the investigation was still ongoing.

The agency also did not explain and express its side when it appeared in some news that the OTS seems to be condoning the wrongdoings of its screening officers.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) expressed dismay at the incident involving the NAIA security screening personnel, who allegedly swallowed US$300 bills that were stolen from a departing passenger.

MIAA Officer-in-Charge Bryan Co issued a warning that any airport front liners whose actions undermine MIAA's efforts to improve service standards at the airport have no place in the NAIA.