Three teams of police officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were recognized on Monday, Jan. 7, by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for their honesty, efforts and accomplishments.
On Monday, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal thanked this month’s awardees for their commitment to retain peace and order at the airport, and apprehend persons trying to victimize passengers.
Among those recognized were a team from NAIA Police Intelligence and Investigation Division (PIID), for successfully apprehending a notorious swindler at the airport last November 14.
The team was composed of Airport Police Officer 1 (APO1) Jerico Kim Patriarca, APO1 Joey Barlaan, APO1 Edzel Biag, APO2 Jerrold Demegillo, APO2 Ada Marie T. Campos, APO1 Elino R. Potracion and APO1 Gerber B. Argales.
Airport police Senior Inspector Nemencio Bawalan previously said suspect Juvy Zamora victimized a newly-arrived overseas Filipino worker (OFW) while the latter was waiting for her connecting flight to Tuguegarao.
Zamora apparently got the OFW’s cash, her bag containing 10,000 HK dollars, four mobile phones, jewelry, passport and other important documents.
The team was able to apprehend Zamora in her residence. Policemen recovered PHP65,000 cash, the OFW’s documents and other items.
Another team, composed of APO1 Geoffrey John Camarauan and APO1 Saeed Qassim Abdul Karim Lopez, was recognized for recovering a passenger’s clutch bag with PHP250,000 cash and passports from a suspected member of “salisi” (a modus operandi where criminals distract their victim, making the commission of the crime unnoticed).
Bawalan earlier said that a passenger sought the help of airport police officers at NAIA Terminal 3 last November. Upon investigation, the suspect admitted he had three cohorts.
Suspect Reynaldo Gamelde was initially charged with violations of Article 151 (Resisting Arrest) and Article 178 (Using Fictitious Name and Concealing True Name) of the Revised Penal Code.
Meanwhile, another team from the PIID, composed of APO2 Diomedes Roca III, APO2 Ismael Bilal Rivera, APO1 John Bernard Mendeja, APO1 Mark Leonard Arcilla and APO1 Dyron Candido, was commended for apprehending a taxi driver accused of robbery.
Authorities received the robbery complaint from a passenger last November, according to MIAA authorities.
All awardees received certificates of recognition from MIAA. Monreal said he truly appreciates their efforts, and hopes that they will remain committed to their job.
