Airport security allegedly swallows $300 from passenger wallet

Philippine airport authorities on Friday announced charges would be filed against the security officer, identified as Irency Morados, the Straits Times reported.

The female screening officer stole the cash from the wallet of the passenger who handed over his shoulder bag to her before going through a security scanner.

The passenger then noticed that his wallet was open and his money inside was missing.

He questioned the security officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport screening area.

Morados turned away and began swallowing the bills "to avoid getting caught," Philippines airport authorities said in a report. However, her act was captured by the security camera.

Footage from a security camera showed her holding a bottle of water and trying to put a lump of bills in her mouth to swallow.

Transportation Minister Jaime Bautista has ordered the Office of Transportation Security to file charges against Morados, according to Inquirer.

This was the the third theft at Manila’s airport so far this year. Earlier this year, airport security personnel were found stealing money from a Thai tourist.

Five days later, another screening officer was arrested for stealing a Chinese passenger’s watch.

In response to increasing incidents of theft at the airport, Filipino authorities have ordered personnel to stop wearing jackets and remove pockets from their uniforms.