By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday ordered an investigation into the missing and eventual return of a passenger’s jewelry box at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
In a statement, Dizon ordered the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to conduct an investigation into the incident and to ensure it does not happen again.
“Bilang tugon sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tiyakin ang kaligtasan at seguridad ng mga pasahero, mabilis na narekober at naibalik sa isang pasahero ang kanyang mga alahas na nawala (In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to ensure the safety and security of passengers, we have quickly recovered and returned the missing jewelry of a NAIA passenger),” he said.
Dizon’s statement came after passenger Kimberly Nakamura praised the NAIA Terminal 3 Airport Police Department (APD) and Screening and Surveillance Division (SSD) in a social media post for swiftly recovering her missing jewelry box after discovering its loss after arriving in Singapore on June 28 from Manila.
In a statement, the MIAA said the jewelry box was first tracked through closed-circuit television footage when it was left unattended at Gate 104 and passed around by more than 10 airline and security personnel.
“Despite multiple chances, none of the staff reported the item to the lost and found section,” it said.
The NAIA Terminal 3 APD and SSD managed to recover all items from the jewelry box.
“Airport Police Officers Casey San Juan and Frelyn Leda, along with CCTV analysts, followed every lead, questioned all involved parties, and stayed committed until full recovery,” it said.
Nakamura chose not to press formal charges, but the MIAA called on all airlines and security agencies of those personnel involved in the incident to take disciplinary action against those responsible. (PNA)
