Husband arrested for tearing wife's passport at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines: A man was arrested by aviation police for assaulting and tearing the passport of his wife, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was about to leave for Kuwait.

The OFW identified as Myren Detaro Onato, 31, sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police — Aviation Security Unit based at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after her husband, Jonard Banate, 34, assaulted her and tried to stop her from leaving the country.

Onato, a native of Roxas City, Capiz, complained that she had allegedly been abused by her husband, as she always gets hurt whenever her husband gets drunk out of jealousy.

Onato mentioned that she was surprised upon seeing Banate at the NAIA Terminal 1, where he approached and confronted her.

Onato was taken by surprise when her spouse unexpectedly grabbed her passport and boarding pass and proceeded to tear them in front of her. Banato also damaged her cellphone.

The OFW said that she was supposed to leave on Wednesday at 1 p.m., because her employer expected her to return to Kuwait once her vacation is over.

The OFW was advised to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs for passport replacement.

The airline staff, meanwhile, were trying to get the OFW's luggage as it was already checked in before her husband tore up her travel documents.

According to the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, Banate could potentially be sentenced to a minimum of six years and a maximum of 15 years in prison, in addition to a fine of at least P60,000, if proven guilty.