Dubai OFW, Jordanian Companion Missed Their Flight At NAIA Terminal 1 Because Of Ube Jam

An OFW from Dubai with his Jordanian companion has not been able to board their flight because an Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Screener apprehended them because of carrying a jar of ube jam in their hand carry bag.

Sergio Padilla, an Office of Transportation Security Screener allegedly attempted to extort the complainant OFW Carol Reynon Quebalayan after the Officer found a jar of ube jam inside their hand carry bag and ask Quebalayan to go and talk to him at the side.

Padilla told Quebalayan that her jars of ube jam is not allowed in hand carry and instructed her to talk at the side instead of advising what she could do.

“Tara na po sa tabi, pag-usapan natin iyung ube jam ninyo,” said Padilla to Quebalayan.

When Quebalayan refused to do what Padilla told, he allegedly shouted at her.

“Wala na po kaming oras para pag-usapan sa tabi. Ang point ko po, kung bawal, bawal... Sabi niya, pasigaw, ‘Kung ayaw niyong pag-usapan sa tabi, itapon niyo na lang sa tabi.’” narrated Quebalayan. “Mag-a-agree naman po akong itapon sa basurahan pero parang iyong way ng pakikipag-communicate n’ya sa amin, hindi proper.”

The incident caused Quebalayan and her companion to miss their flight to Dubai.

She begged the Airport Officials to help her in rebooking a flight immediately because her companion needed to visit his sibling with cancer.

“Lumuhod ako, umiiyak ako dahil iyung kasama ko, andoon daw po sa hospital ang kapatid niya. May cancer pa,” said Quebalayan.

They were able to get new tickets for Php 75,000 but the Jordanian later ended up in a hospital due to extreme distress.

“Sobrang masaya na nakapunta siya ng Pilipinas, first time niya. Na-appreciate niya bawat pagkain. Lahat ng good things binanggit niya except doon sa what happened sa kanya sa airport, sobrang na-disappoint daw siya,” said Quebalayan.

“Hindi siya nakakain maghapon, hindi siya nakainom ng tubig, nilagnat, nagsi-seizure siya. Pinaospital ko pa nga siya. Ayaw niya kumain dahil sa sobrang nag-worry siya, natakot. Siyempre, nakakahiya na iyung image natin sa Pilipinas,” she added.

Quebalayan also alleged that Anatalio Salaysay, another Airport Personnel, attempted to make her sign a waiver stating that they missed their flight because they were late without stating the circumstances that they missed the flight because of the apprehension made by the OTS personnel.

However, an Airport Policeman assisted Quebalayan to file a complaint.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said Padilla has been relieved of post and is now under investigation.

Monreal also find the OTS Personnel strange and suspicious when he could just have confiscated and discarded the ube jam and let the passengers catch their flight.

“Ayoko naman pong sabihin guilty kaagad ang tao, pakinggan po namin kung anong sasabihin niya, pero iyun po ay nakakapagduda,” said Monreal.

Source: JBSolis