The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is investigating a new scam targeting departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), an official said yesterday.

The alleged culprits are porters under the D’Prada Manpower Agency, and they could be charged in court if there is probable cause, said Jesus Descanzo, assistant general manager for security and emergency services.

In a complaint filed before the Airline Operators Council, American Gary Charles Glass, 56, an employee of Delta Air, said that on May 3, he had just arrived at the terminal’s curbside when a porter approached him.

He said the porter told him he would not make his flight due to the long line at the entry to the terminal, but for P2,000 the porter would expedite his luggage to the airline counters.

Glass said two more porters approached him and said the P2,000 was to pay off security personnel and they had to have more money.

He reported the incident to airport police officers on duty and later to Delta Air station manager Maria Rosanna Ocampo.

Ocampo, in a letter to NAIA-3 manager Octavio Lina, identified Glass as an employee from the airline’s Atlanta headquarters and was on company business when he became the victim of a scam at the NAIA-3 departure area curbside checkpoint screening.

She said Glass “was intimidated” by the porters and he gave them money for fear that he would indeed miss his flight and he would lose his belongings when “these three porters were harassing him at Gate 4.”

Previous incidents

Ocampo said she had reported similar incidents involving Delta Air’s customers, “who were traumatized by the deceit, interruption and inconveniences” caused by the porters.

“Delta Air Manila is determined to pin down these unlawful acts hurting Delta’s brand and NAIA in general,” she said.

Ocampo identified the suspects as Porters 186, 326 and 316.

She also said that effective immediately, Delta Air will no longer allow D’Prada porters to loiter around the airline’s area during a flight departure.

“They need to leave immediately after their baggage assistance to the customer,” Ocampo said.

On May 6, Lina told Ocampo that the porters were interrogated by the airport police and endorsed to the assistant general manager for operations for termination of employment.