3 theft suspects caught at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Three men were caught allegedly in the act of stealing 979,000 yen (approximately P499,000) from a Japanese man who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Narita Monday afternoon.

Kazuo Nakazawa, 53, said he was loading luggage into his service vehicle as he was waiting for his Filipina wife, who he met two years ago, to pick him up. He said he put down his laptop bag, which contained the money, on the pushcart.

“The money is for my wife to buy important things for the house, we are just beginning our life as a married couple,” he added.

Lieutenant Demetrio Sison Jr. of the airport police’s investigation division said plainclothes policemen who were in the NAIA investigating a “series of thefts” saw the theft in progress and arrested Romeo Parabuac, 62; Samuel Lazaga, 26; and Hervan Sicay, 42.

Sison said the policemen noticed Lazaga running away with the bag, Sicay blocking Lazaga from view, and Parabuac serving as their lookout.