By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — A contractual security personnel at Kalibo International Airport has been terminated for allegedly stealing the mobile phone of a Manila-bound passenger.
The Provincial Board was set to conduct an inquiry on the incident that Board member Esel Flores, tourism committee chair, said “hurt” the tourism industry.
Caught red-handed, the male employee of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) confessed to taking the mobile phone.
“Nakursunadahan ang cell phone dahil mamahalin (He was tempted because the cell phone was expensive),” said Cynthia Aspera, the airport manager.
The female victim claimed that she was the granddaughter of retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Arturo Lomibao, police said.
She complained that her mobile phone disappeared from the tray where she placed it for inspection through the X-ray scanners.
Aspera said the incident happened at about 2 p.m. on Sunday last week.
“Her flight was delayed, so the victim was still able to report to the airport police (PNP Aviation Security Group) and retrieved her cell phone,” Aspera said.
Created under the Department of Transportation and Communications, OTS is in charge of transportation security operations, including the screening of passengers, baggage and cargoes in airports.
OTS screening officers direct passengers to place the personal belongings, including electronic gadgets, in a tray for X-ray scanning before they board the aircraft.
Afraid that his coworkers might also take the brunt of what he did, the suspect, whom airport authorities refused to identify, returned the mobile phone to the victim before she boarded her flight.
The contractual worker of two years was terminated and placed under investigation by OTS.
“I hope it will not happen again,” Aspera said. “This is lesson learned for security personnel assigned at the Kalibo airport and for all of us.”
All items left by passengers at the airport are turned over to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ Kalibo office, Aspera said.
Once, an airport worker found a wallet containing P3,100 cash left by a passenger at the second floor of terminal building, she said.
Aspera said she searched for any identification in the wallet and reached the owner, who was already onboard the aircraft. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
