NAIA salisi suspect who duped OFW from Kuwait arrested

Airport police arrested a 27-year-old man who stole at least P168,000 from a Filipino domestic worker from Kuwait at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

NAIA General Manager Ed Monreal presented to the media and identified the suspect as Rey John J. Manglay, alias “Arjhay Valdez”, a native of Isabela.

Monreal said the suspect was arrested in a follow-up operation after his latest victim, Harija Panayaman Hamsa, filed a complaint against him.

“He approached and befriended me when I arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1 on February 27. He convinced me to go with him to the NAIA Terminal 3 for my connecting flight to General Santos City,” Hamsa said.

She said the suspect presented himself as a newly-arrived OFW from Saudi Arabia and was even “carrying baggage but it turned out it was only ‘props.’’’

“He took advantage of me when I entered the toilet. He carted away my luggage and carry-on bag that I entrusted to him,” Hamsa said.

She said her luggage contained KD900 (P150,000.00), one gold ring, one gold necklace worth P18,000, two units of mobile phones, and other valuables.

“I saved my salary for three years from my work as a domestic helper in Kuwait as I dreamt to put up a business for my family in our province, but all my dreams are shattered,” Hamsa said.

Monreal said police found out that the suspect had victimized 20 other persons, including other overseas Filipino workers and a German tourist, based on the diary recovered from the suspect.

The suspect recorded all the details of the cash and valuables he had stolen from his victims, Monreal said.

He also presented several pawnshop receipts for various pieces jewelry, gadgets, and laptops; wallets; ATM cards; various IDs of the victims; keys and other items recovered from the suspect.

The suspect said he spent all the money in bar-hopping in Makati and other posh watering holes in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Monreal promised to help Hamsa in pursuing the cases against the suspect and to help her to return to her province. He urged other victims to come forward and also file charges.

The suspect was charged with swindling and qualified theft at the Pasay City prosecutor’s office. He is now detained at the NAIA police detention facility.