NAIA screening officer arrested for allegedly taking watch of foreign passenger


An airport screening officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 was arrested after he was accused of stealing a wrist watch owned by a foreign passenger on Wednesday, March 1. 

OTS chief Undersecretary Ma-o Aplasca said the arrest came following the complaint of a Chinese passenger that he lost his wrist watch while undergoing screening at the NAIA Terminal 1 at arounds 2:30 a.m.
ariel.jpgOffice of Transportation Security chief Undersecretary Ma-o Aplasca confronts a screening officer at the NAIA Terminal 1 who was accused of stealing a watch owned by a Chinese passenger. (photo: OTS) 

He identified the arrested screening officer as Valeriano Diaz Ricaplaza, 31. 

Ricaplaza first denied that he took the watch but a review of the closed circuit television (CCTV) revealed otherwise.

Ricapalaza is now under the custody of the police’s Aviation Security Group.