The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) on Monday said it has preventively suspended the two Security Screening Officers (SSO) who allegedly extorted money from a departing Thai tourist at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
In a viral video posted by Thai national Piyawat Gunlayaprasit on February 22, an SSO personnel was seen handing something to her colleague's pocket from the Thai tourist’s bag during a security screening checkpoint.
After getting caught by the Thai national, an SSO personnel returned the money, which amounted to 20,000 yen, or Php 8,000.
"The OTS took immediate actions to identify the involved SSOs. Subsequently, they were relieved from their duty and placed under preventive suspension," OTS said in a statement.
It said that OTS investigators are set to file appropriate administrative and criminal cases against the two personnel involved.
The OTS added that it will continue to communicate with Thai tourists to expedite the cases.
"These illegal acts will not be tolerated, and we will apply the full force of the law to penalize the perpetrators." They shall not only be dismissed from the service but shall also be put behind bars for their criminal acts that tarnish the reputation and integrity not only of OTS but of the entire country in general," it underlined.
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, condemned the reported extortion.
"Noong nakita ko 'yung video na iyon. Talagang nakakagalit at nakakahiya. Isa na namang problema ito sa reputasyon ng NAIA, ang ating airports," she said in a press conference.
"Ito, Thai National na nagpunta sa atin, at naging ganito pa ang karanasan. Kung sino ang security na dapat magpo-protekta sa atin, sila pa mismo ang gumagawa ng kalokohan," Poe added.
The Senator said it may be time for NAIA to consider raising the salary of its personnel.
"Walang excuse ha sa paggawa ng bagay na illegal kahit nangangailangan ka. Pero ang totoo non, kapag sobrang gipit ka dahil hindi ka binibigyan ng tamang sweldo ay lalo kang maeenganyo gumawa ng mga ganito," she said.
Poe said she has directed the Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA) to submit a report about the incident.
