DOTr orders filing of charges vs airport personnel involved in passenger’s missing $300

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the filing of appropriate charges against airport security personnel allegedly involved in the case of missing cash of a foreigner at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a statement on Thursday, the DOTr said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista directed the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to immediately file charges against security screening personnel tagged in the September 8 incident at Terminal 1 of NAIA.

The DOTr said Bautista directed Transportation Undersecretary for Legal Atty. Reinier Yebra to assist in filing the complaints against those found to have connived in stealing from the handcarried bag of a Chinese passenger.

The Transportation chief also authorized imposing the maximum penalty to those who will be found guilty to show the department's effort to rid NAIA as well as other attached agencies of scalawags, according to the DOTr.

According to earlier reports, three OTS personnel were being investigated after a CCTV footage showed a female personnel putting something in her mouth and then drinking water.

OTS officials conducted an inspection on all personnel after a passenger complained that his $300 in cash was missing.

Upon checking the CCTV footage, they saw a 28-year-old contractual employee swallowing an object. Officials are now investigating whether the item was the missing cash.

Bautista expressed frustration and dismay over the incident at NAIA, which he was trying to promote to potential foreign investors who may want to operate and maintain the country's main gateway.

The OTS is coordinating with the PNP Aviation Security Group for the filing of criminal raps and assisting the complainant if he decides to pursue the case.—AOL, GMA Integrated News