An airport screener in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been suspended after an alleged extortion attempt on a Filipina and her Jordanian companion.
Balikbayan Carol Reynon Quebalayan claimed that SG of the Office of Transportation Security stopped her and her companion after finding jars of ube jam in her hand-carried luggage, ABS-CBN News reports.
“Tara po sa tabi, pag-usapan natin iyung ube jam niyo.” (Let’s go there at the side and talk about your ube jam.), SG supposedly told Quebalayan.
When Quebalayan didn’t follow SG’s orders, he started shouting at them.
Quebalayan said that SG could’ve simply thrown the jams in the garbage if it was indeed prohibited. When Quebalayan asked to confer with an immigration officer, SG directed her to the check-in counter.
The encounter caused Quebalayan and her companion to miss their flight.
Quebalayan added that as an attempt to cover up SG’s actions, another airport personnel tried to convince her to sign a waiver saying that they were late for their flight.
What made the situation worse? Quebalayan’s foreign companion was so stressed out by the situation that he had to be brought to the hospital. He wasn’t able to eat and drink because of fear. He also had seizure attacks.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal said that SG’s actions are indeed suspicious as he could’ve simply thrown away the ube jam.
Airport authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Reader Interactions