MANILA — A British couple experienced the loss of their sling bag, containing vital belongings, during the X-ray scan process at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1’s departure area.
The incident unfolded on March 2, a Saturday, marking another episode following a previous controversy where security personnel were accused of mishandling dollar bills.
Daniel Lynch and his Filipino wife, Abigael, promptly reported the loss to the Airport Police Department (APD), prompting airport authorities to review CCTV footage.
The footage revealed Lynch placing his sling bag into the X-ray machine. However, upon inspection, the security officer from Lanting Security could not locate the bag, which held a cell phone, wallet, and IDs.
While disappointed, the couple remained thankful as they did not misplace their passports and managed to catch their flight to London.
Upon arrival at the airport, several individuals were observed in line, passing their belongings through the X-ray machine. Lanting Security was responsible for manning the X-ray security checkpoint at the departure entrance, where both passengers and non-passengers entered the premises to access the waiting area.
Conversely, OTS personnel supervised the Final Security Checkpoint, exclusive to passengers and authorized personnel.
As of now, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has yet to issue an official statement regarding this recent incident.
This occurrence follows a string of controversies involving OTS employees, leading to investigations and suspensions, notably due to thefts committed by security screening officers. One officer even ingested three $100 bills stolen from a Chinese traveler at the Manila airport last September.
In response, Speaker Martin Romualdez proposed a comprehensive reorganization, advocating for the replacement of all OTS staff with individuals demonstrating honesty, efficiency, and integrity through a rigorous vetting process.
(el Amigo/MNM)
