Airport security guard ‘caught stealing $300 from passenger by swallowing the money’
- A screening officer in the Philippines has been caught stealing money
- CCTV footage shows a female airport officer taking $300 from a passenger’s bag
- She then tries to ‘swallow’ the dollar bills by putting them in her mouth
A Philippine Office of Transportation Security (OTS) screening officer was caught stealing $300 from a passenger by ramming the notes into her mouth.
Authorities are now investigating the incident that occurred at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in the country.
The female security guard took the passenger’s bag for manual inspection while the passenger walked through an X-ray scanner, the report said. Manila Bulletin.
CCTV footage from September 8 showed the officer turning around while putting something in her waist.
According to a report from the airport authorities, the officer operating the X-ray machine was seen handing the screening officer a bottle of water – this officer was then seen trying to swallow the bills.
An Office Transportation Security screening officer was captured on camera allegedly stealing $300 from a passenger
According to the report, she was “clearly seen deliberately swallowing the dollar bills, folded into one small piece, and even ignoring a passing passenger who tried to ask her something.”
“She was seen having difficulty swallowing the bills despite drinking the bottled water she had been given earlier,” the report said.
The screening officer’s supervisor then approached her while “apparently communicating with her as the latter was clearly nearly choking in her attempt to swallow the dollar bills while using her handkerchief to cover her mouth,” the report said.
In a rack On Monday, the OTS said the identity of the security officer had been established.
“Upon receiving the information regarding the recent allegations of theft involving a Security Screening Officer (SSO) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, where cash amounting to three hundred (300) United States dollars disappeared, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) has taken steps to validate the information and initiate a fact-finding investigation.”
It stressed that the incident does not “reflect the code of conduct for civil servants, rather its core values”.
CCTV footage from September 8 showed the officer turning around as he put something into her waist before gulping down the dollar bills.
Undersecretary of OTS administrator Ma.O Aplasca encouraged informants to report illegal activities of OTS personnel.
Following the first reported theft at the security checkpoint, Mr Aplasca said security measures were taken, including removing the jackets and searching the pockets of security officers’ uniforms.
The staff members involved were immediately fired, prosecuted and reported to the public, Mr Aplasca said.
The footage has since been shared to Reddit, where hundreds of users have commented on the incident.
Some joked: ‘Omg money is dirty,’ and ‘She’s money hungry.’
Others questioned her technique: “I like how she stands right in front of the security camera and then takes forever to get the job done.”