Philippines fires 5 airport security officers for stealing from Thai tourist

By Hoang Vu   March 3, 2023 | 12:09 am PT
Philippines fires 5 airport security officers for stealing from Thai tourist
A foreign passenger arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 10, 2022. Photo by Reuters
Authorities in the Philippines earlier this week sacked five airport security personnel for allegedly stealing ¥20,000 ($200) from a Thai tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The security officers are under criminal investigation, The Philippine Star reported.

The incident came to light after a witness posted a video on social media showing a female security screening officer taking cash from the Thai tourist and then giving it to a colleague who was manning the X-ray machine at the airport's Terminal 3.

"I saw the Philippine officer doing it secretly and took a photo. It turns out that she put the money that she had stolen from a Thai brother to put it in the pocket of a short-haired officer," the witness said in a Facebook post.

On Wednesday, another airport security screening officer was also arrested after security footage showed him taking a watch from a Chinese passenger at the airport's Terminal 1.

Officials said that the officer took the watch while the passenger was going through the X-ray machine for security screening.

The Filipino government said that it would improve its security measures following a series of thefts carried out by airport staff.

 
 
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