A suspected thief has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after he allegedly stole a designer bag and used fake identification cards to evade airport authorities, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) revealed Friday, Feb. 11.
According to MIAA, Manuel Hernandez was nabbed by airport police at NAIA Terminal 3 last Feb. 9 for presenting falsified Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) identification cards and assuming the identity of a certain "Eric Chen."
The MIAA said that Hernandez was spotted by alert airport police while sitting at the fourth floor of NAIA Terminal 3.
The police identified Hernandez as the man caught on a closed circuit television (CCTV) footage while allegedly stealing a Gucci bag worth P97,000 from a certain Adonis Viray, who flew to Amsterdam, Netherlands on Jan. 23, 2021.
When the airport police apprehended Hernandez, he presented fake IATF cards bearing his false name. Upon verification at the Bureau of Immigrarion, his true identity was revealed.
He also surrendered the Gucci bag upon his arrest, according to MIAA.
Further verification revealed that Hernandez was twice jailed in Pasay City and Cebu City for estafa cases.
The MIAA said that Hernandez was held at the airport's detention facility as he faces charges for violation of the Revised Penal Code Article 178 (Using fictitious name and concealing true name) and Article 172 (Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents).
Meanwhile, the theft charge against Hernandez will temporarily be held in abeyance since Mr. Viray is in Arruba and his presence is needed for the filing of the case.