Two Security Screening Officers (SSOs) designated at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) - Terminal (T1) are under investigation after getting caught extorting US 300 dollars from a Chinese tourist, according to the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).
In a statement released on Monday, OTS said the two SSOs were identified and they were immediately relieved from their positions.
“Noong ma-report yung unang insidente ng nakawan sa security screening checkpoint, hindi tayo nagdalawang isip tanggalin sa ating hanay, at sampahan ng kaso yung mga anay na sumisira sa imahe ng gobyerno," OTS Administrator Mao Aplasca said.
"Tayo mismo, ipinakulong natin ‘yung sarili nating tao. We even reported them to the public para huwag pamarisan ng iba," he added.
Based on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, a female SSO officer was seen swallowing the dollars that she embezzled from a Chinese's wallet.
Another SSO officer, an alleged accomplice, was also caught giving bottled water to the female SSO officer to help her swallow the stolen money.
The OTS Administrator said they are closely coordinating with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security on the incident.
Aplasca said screening officers seem to be finding other ways to commit inappropriate acts even though pockets and jackets on their uniforms were removed.
In March, the MIAA implemented a "no pocket policy" for the uniforms and jackets worn by SSO deployed at the NAIA after reported extortions and thefts.
