THE Cebu Pacific Air has completed its probe and declared no baggage theft happened in the case of a female passenger who claimed she lost her laptop and other belongings on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last weekend.
The passenger, whom the airline refused to identify, arrived in Manila on board CEB flight 5J113 from Hong Kong last April 14.
“After a full and thorough investigation, which included inquiries with the ground staff, viewing body cam and fixed closed-circuit television camera footage, among others, we have found that there were no discrepancies nor indications of tampering in the baggage of the concerned passenger under the care and custody of Cebu Pacific,” said CEB chief information officer Ma. Rosario Lagamon.
Reports showed the passenger flew via another airline from London to Hong Kong, where she retrieved her luggage prior to checking in for Flight 5J 113.
“©“We are providing all information and footage to the authorities, and submitting a full report to the Manila International Airport Authority,” said Lagamon.
She added the Office for Transportation Security and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group would also be furnished with the copy of the CEB’s investigation report of the incident.
“We thanked the passenger for her patience as we investigated the incident and the appreciation she conveyed to our team for the support we provided. The passenger asked for discretion and to be low profile,” Lagamon said.
Initial reports showed that after checking in for Flight 5J113 in Hong Kong, the passenger’s baggage was placed inside a Unit Load Device or baggage container and secured aboard the aircraft.
“The CCTV security footage showed that the ULD arrived Manila intact, with the passenger’s baggage inside. CCTV footage further showed ground personnel loading the baggage on the carousel with the lock still in place,” the CEB management stated.
The incident went viral during the weekend with more than 70,000 shares on social media.
Airport administrators in the past launched a campaign against baggage pilferage to help the airlines in protecting its passengers’ check-in luggage possibly against unscrupulous station loaders who are employees of a subsidiary corporation of Naia’s accredited ground handling companies.
They reminded passengers that as much as possible, they should avoid putting valuable items in their luggage, or place these in their carry-on bags to keep them safe.
The authorities said pilferages were not only happening in Naia.
It is also the problem in other countries’ airports, or the country of origin where the passenger had come from, authorities said.
MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal appealed to employees to seriously take the agency’s campaign to rid the airport of misfits and other undesirables.
Monreal said since he took over, the MIAA embarked on an all-out campaign to cleanse the ranks of its own police force as well as civilian workers assigned at the Naia.
The MIAA chief ordered his men to strictly implement the “no pocket” policy at the baggage breakdown and build-up areas of the airport to prevent pilferage allegedly perpetrated by workers handling baggage of passengers.
The policy was first implemented in November 2008 in a bid to deter baggage theft incident.
Monreal also appealed to airline operators to consider imposing a policy on aircraft cleaners prohibiting them from wearing jewelry when boarding an aircraft as a parallel effort from their end.
