A security screener at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was fired after allegedly stealing a passenger’s wallet and the cash inside it, GMA News reported.
A friend of the victim, Jackie Freeman Yuen related that they were about to take a flight to Hong Kong and were passing through the final screening at Terminal 2 when Nissan Abellon Villarino insisted in doing a manual check of the victim’s backpack.
Villarino allegedly took out the contents of the bag and pulled out two pieces of HK$1,000 bills from the victim’s wallet.
It was only after the English-speaking companions of the victim confronted him that the airport employee returned the cash
The group was not able to file a complaint as they had to catch their flight.
However, Yuen sent a message to MIAA about the incident.
Airport officials conducted an investigation that concluded with the filing of administrative charges against Villarino.
Villarino denied the accusation, explaining that he was only joking when he asked the foreigner for cash.
He apologized for the inconvenience he caused.
For now, one of the sanctions imposed on Villarino is that he no longer has access to the terminal.
As a formal complaint was filed at the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong, he may also face a criminal case.
Photo credit: tribune.net.ph
