Arriving flyer at Naia found bag slashed, necklace gone

MANILA, Philippines–Is there a “laslas-bag” gang operating inside Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)?

Coming home to be at her sister’s funeral, Ma. Isabel Tung flew from Taiwan and landed April 18 at Naia-Terminal 3, where she found her checked-in bag slashed open and her 24-karat gold necklace and several brand-new clothes already missing.

Tung, 53, reported the theft Wednesday to the media office of the Manila International Airport Authority, complaining that when she first relayed the incident to Cebu Pacific employees, they just told her to fill out and submit a guest feedback form.

“After I submitted the form, and later when I asked them for updates on my case, they just said they were still following it up. They also kept asking me when I would be leaving for Taiwan,” she told the Inquirer. “They are not offering any explanation how it happened.”

Reached for comment on Thursday, Cebu Pacific’s corporate communications manager Michelle Fojas gave the assurance that Tung’s complaint had been endorsed to the airline’s guest services team for immediate action.

Tung, who hails from Cavite province and is married to a Taiwanese, brought the damaged bag with her to the MIAA office, showing to reporters how it was slit wide open apparently using a razor. The cut formed an arc and was about 20 inches long.

She recalled that her bag was among the last checked-in items on her flight to come out on the conveyor belt.

“The (stolen) necklace was for my mother and those pants and shirts are for my nephews and nieces,” said Tung.

She said she has a friend who also had the same experience but was unable to lodge a complaint because she was already overseas by the time she discovered her “slashed” bag. It was unclear, however, if that theft happened at Naia or at the airport of destination, she said.