MANILA — A “salisi” gang member stealing passengers’ baggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City was caught by airport and city police personnel in an entrapment operation, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said on Friday.
The operation was conducted Thursday at a burger outlet in Pasay City, where suspect Rhey Asumbrado was apprehended after accepting marked money from his latest victim.
According to MIAA, the incident happened last Feb. 6, when the victim, Bonifacio Legazpi, noticed his backpack was missing.
Legazpi claimed his backpack contained an iPad and important seaman documents.
He reported to MIAA’s Airport Police Department that the suspect called him asking him PHP15,000 to get his documents.
The airport police told Legazpi to negotiate for a meet up. Asumbrado was charged with theft before the Pasay Regional Trial Court.
Authorities said Asumbrado claimed he also sold Legazpi’s backpack and iPad.
In a statement, MIAA said Asumbrado has already victimized three people in NAIA Terminal 3 in 2012 and in 2017. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
