Pacquiao’s brod loses balikbayan box at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - A balikbayan box of the brother of boxing icon Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s went missing after their group arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 last Thursday morning.

Roel Pacquiao was part of the Pacquiao entourage that arrived at the airport past 5 a.m. from Los Angeles, California on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 103.

His box reportedly disappeared from the conveyor and he immediately sought the help of customs officials and aviation police.

Roel, the younger brother of the fighting congressman, and Rico Alex of the police Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) reviewed the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage at conveyor no. 3 in the arrival baggage claim area to identify the suspect who carted away one of the victim’s LBC balikbayan boxes.

During the review of the CCTV footage, Pacquiao’s balikbayan box was spotted at the carousel, but the person who took the box could not be identified due to blurred reception of the CCTV camera.

Roel said the balikbayan box contained expensive items such as watches, rubber shoes, electronic gadgets, cameras and iPhones.

An airport official who requested anonymity said the CCTV cameras in the NAIA terminals should be immediately upgraded.

The official said that the Manila International Airport Authority officials failed to buy new CCTVs. They instead bought body-scanning machines worth P140 million, but the equipment has not been used.

Airport policemen escorted Rep. Pacquiao and the members of his team from the plane to the NAIA Terminal 1 lobby.

According to airport officials, the balikbayan box of Pacquiao could have been picked up by mistake by another passenger.

“There are many boxes that look the same,” the source said in Filipino. “We hope that the passenger who took the box will contact the airline personnel.”