OTS looking into possible syndicate behind missing $300 at NAIA

The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) on Friday said it was looking into a possible syndicate behind the incidents of theft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“That is the direction of our investigation. In fact, right now, there are still pending cases that we are investigating,” OTS administrator Ma. O Aplasca said on ANC.

“Hopefully in the next few weeks, we'll be able to finish our investigation and charge all of those responsible,” he added.

Aplasca explained that the OTS had identified several of the supposed syndicate's masterminds, but he said authorities were still gathering evidence to formally charge these individuals.

Aplasca declined to divulge the involved personalities' positions as the investigation was still ongoing.

The OTS chief said that, initially, the agency thought that the incidents of theft were just isolated cases.

“But based on the number of cases that have happened already, I think the problem is deeper than we thought as a simple issue of misconduct,” he said.

“We are looking at maybe we will now approach by way of culture change in our organization,” he added.

Since 2022, 70 personnel have been involved in theft incidents, according to Aplasca.

Recently, three OTS personnel were under investigation after a foreigner's money went missing at the NAIA.

OTS officials inspected all personnel after the passenger complained that his $300 in cash went missing on September 8.

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.

The employee said she swallowed chocolates, not the missing $300. — DVM, GMA Integrated News