NAIA janitor nabbed for stealing tourist’s bag

Catapang

Manila—Airport policemen arrested a 25-year-old janitor after he stole the bag of a Chinese tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

Operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA] terminal 1 arrested a 25-year-old janitor after he carted away a stolen bag of a passenger containing cell phone, eyeglass and other personal belongings.

Airport police Insp. Erick Mejia said they arrested suspect Rocky Catapang, an employee of PhilCare Janitor services, for CCTV footage showed that he took the bag of complainant Liaoning Wang Huan.

“I thought there was no camera in the area,” Catapang told investigators.

Mejia said the suspect was assigned at the NAIA Terminal 1 on July 28 when the Chinese national left his red backpack on a chair at the pre-departure area. The bag contained his cellphone, eyeglasses, and other personal belongings.

Mejia said the CCTV footage showed that Catapang picked up the backpack and casually walked away. The suspect was identified through his uniform.

When the police caught up with Catapang, he had already reformatted the victim’s smartphone and put his own SIM card inside.

The suspect told investigators that he immediately used the smartphone and threw in the garbage bin the victim’s eyeglasses and other belongings “to avoid being caught.”

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal ordered the immediate sacking of Catapang, the revocation of his access pass, and the filing of criminal cases against the suspect.