A Chinese national was arrested after he was caught stealing from a female judge aboard a plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
In a statement, BI Officer-in-Charge Joel Anthony Viado identified the Chinese national as Lyu Shuming, 48, who was arrested at the NAIA Terminal 3 last Sept. 15.
The BI did not identify the female judge.
“We will not allow these kinds of foreigners to victimize our kababayan,” Viado declared. Based on his statement, it can be presumed that the judge is a Filipino.
“The BI will continue to monitor the progress of this case, and blacklist any other members that might be found,” he added.
The BI said that Lyu, who was found to have a valid Philippine visa, was traveling with two other Chinese nationals identified as Xu Xianpu, 41, and Xie Xiaoyong, 54.
“All three have been recommended for inclusion in the BI’s blacklist,” the BI said as it noted that Xu and Xie were also suspected to be thieves and have been allowed to board an outbound flight.
The BI said the three Chinese nationals were transiting the Philippines from Malaysia to Hong Kong.
While aboard the plane, the BI said a flight attendant caught Lyu stealing a handbag and P63,000 in cash owned by a female judge who was traveling with two lawyers.
“He was said to have opened the overhead stowage bin to retrieve the bag owned by the judge,” it said.
“He was found by the airline personnel rummaging through the judge’s personal belongings, taking valuables he found inside,” it added.