2 Office for Transportation Security personnel nabbed for NAIA theft

MANILA, Philippines — Two Office for Transportation Security (OTS) employees were arrested for taking A$1,000 from a Japanese traveler’s wallet when they were inspecting his luggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) on Wednesday.

Intelligence agents Stephen Bartolo admitted sharing the loot with another intelligence agent, Demmie James Timtim, officials said yesterday.

According to a complaint filed by Yuya Sakata, 25, he arrived at NAIA-3 from Australia at around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Sakata decided to leave the airport for a while since his connecting flight to Cebu was set at 9:35 p.m. He returned at around 7 p.m.

Sakata, upon noticing that A$1,000 was missing from his wallet, reported the loss to the airport police, which said closed-circuit television footage showed Bartolo taking the money from Sakata’s wallet when he searched the traveler’s hand-carried bag.

Bartolo surrendered two A$50 bills while four more A$50 bills were found in Timtim’s jacket pocket, officials said.

Bartolo and Timtim were charged with qualified theft before the Pasay in prosecutor’s office.