MANILA - Office of Transport Security (OTS) head Roland Recamono admitted Wednesday afternoon that he was not aware that four Filipinas carrying 2.5 kilos of cocaine have been arrested in Hong Kong.

Recamono said it was the first time he learned of the arrest.

"This is the first time I learned of this information," Recamono told ABS-CBN News.

Recamono also seemed surprised how 2.5 kilos of cocaine were able to slip past two X-ray machines manned by airport screeners.

Airport screeners, who were responsible for the seizure of bullets from passengers, failed to detect the prohibited drugs on the hand-carried luggage of the arrested Filipinas.



Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that there were four Filipinas arrested when their flight from Manila arrived in Hong Kong sometime in September.

Airport sources disclosed that the four Filipinas arrested in Hong Kong boarded Cebu Pacific commercial flight 5J 142 on September 26.

Sheryl Chua, Marilou Thomas, Remelyn Rogue and a dentist identified as Dr. Ana Loella were arrested when they arrived in Hong Kong for the foiled smuggling of 2.5 kilos of cocaine.

Recamono promised to conduct an investigation following this major breach of airport security.

The DFA has deployed a legal team to handle the case in Hong Kong.