Dollar-eaters

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a mainstay in the “worst of” lists since 2010, is sporting a new black eye. This time, the latest injury to the country’s image as a veritable investment and tourism destination did not stem from paralyzed airspace due to an embarrassing power outage. It is related to a bizarre theft incident involving a security screener that may be worthy of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” As a result, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which manages NAIA, have fallen further into disrepute.

The culprit is an Office of Terminal Security (OTS) employee, who was caught on closed-circuit television camera stuffing alleged stolen money in her mouth. On Sept. 8, she reportedly stole $300 from the shoulder bag of a departing Chinese passenger at NAIA Terminal 1.

NAIA predators

The suspect denied the allegation, claiming what she swallowed was chocolate and not the missing dollars. The CCTV footage also showed two other OTS personnel assisting the screening officer in hiding the criminal evidence. The DOTr immediately placed the individuals under preventive suspension. As expected, the viral video has earned the ire and ridicule of netizens. I will not be surprised if it has been shared on various social media platforms worldwide.

Now, I shudder to think that the country would not only be known as home to the majestic bird of prey, the Philippine (monkey-eating) Eagle, but also as the land of dollar-swallowing, predatory airport officers. I am afraid that such ill-repute will become a red flag, if not a turn-off, for tourists and investors wanting to visit the country.

To be fair, the OTS has suspended or dismissed security screeners for