CCTV caught a female security screening officer (SSO) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 putting $300 (about P17,000) in her mouth when she was thought to have stolen from a Chinese customer leaving the airport.
A “no pocket policy” was put in place by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for security staff in March after several thefts from passengers. This says that security guards can’t wear jackets or outfits with pockets.
According to the Airport Police Department’s official record, the event took place on September 8 at around 8:20 PM.
A Chinese passenger named Cai was seen putting his shoulder bag on the inspection tray for the last checkpoint. This was seen on CCTV video. The screening officer looked through his shoulder bag on the table as she walked through the Advanced Imaging Technology Machine (AITM).
This was part of her “manual search.”
The female security screening officer suspiciously turned away while holding something in her left hand with her fist tightly closed, according to the APD report.
After putting something quickly on her left chest or waist, she went back to the inspection table.
Cai told the police about the report when he saw that his wallet was open and cash was missing, he talked to the person in charge of screening.
She turned her back on Cai to swallow the bills because she was scared, but then she saw another CCTV that caught the whole thing.
According to the report, she was “clearly seen deliberately swallowing the dollar bills, folded into one small piece” while putting her handkerchief over her mouth.
The report says that her boss was seen talking to the security guard to “apparently ensure that the bills are dispatched to preclude any evidence.”
This suggests that her boss is also involved.
The issue is still being looked into by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), but Cai reportedly refused to make a formal complaint before he left for his flight.
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