OFW loses P82,000 worth of items at Clark airport

Six ground crew members at the Clark International Airport were suspended and are under investigation after a vacationing OFW from Canada lost P82,000 worth of items from his checked baggage.

A report on 24 Oras by JP Soriano on Thursday said the suspension order on the six employees of ground handling company MIASCOR Aviation Services will remain until the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) completes its investigation.

CIAC OIC and CEO Alexander Cauguiran said the theft most likely occurred while the baggage were with the ground crew.

The OFW arrived on December 23, 2017, his baggage the following day. However, it was only on January 10, 2018 when he were allowed to claim the baggage.

Caguirain said CCTV footage show the baggage arrived fully intact.

"Yung araw na dumating 'yung mga bagahe, so nakita namin, na-trace namin, 'andyan talaga 'yung mga bagahe," Caguirain said.

"Tapos 'yung ground handling company, binuhat nila, tapos dinala sa opisina nila. Mula dun sa lugar ng opisina nila, dun lang, hanggang kunin ng pasahero after some days," he added.

The MIASCOR crew members in question will be slapped with charges if proven involved in the theft.

In the meantime, Cauguiran said MIASCOR took responsibility for the theft and compensated the victims for the items allegedly stolen by their ground crew.

"Tinanggap naman ng responsibility ng ground handling company ang pagkawala na yun na under sa kanilang company, at nagbigay naman ng kaukulang halaga ng mga gamit na sinabi ng pasahero na nawala," Cauguiran said.

According to the OFW, who was not identified in the report, he found his bags torn, the zippers broken, and his balikbayan box virtually empty when he claimed them on January 10.  He took to social media to air his grievances. 

"Mag-hand carry na lang kayo kasi kami sinulit namin 'yung weight ng luggage. Pinuno namin tapos pagdating dito, dalawa na lang. Half na lang ng luggage 'yung natira, nawala 'yung mga importante, ['yung] mga mamahalin," he said.

MIASCOR has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News