3 CHINESE MEN INTERCEPTED FOR ALLEGED THEFT IN PAL FLIGHT AT NAIA

AUTHORITIES on Wednesday intercepted three Chinese men allegedly involved in a theft incident on a flight to Manila.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Joel Anthony Viado identified the suspects as Xie Xiaoyong, 54; Lyu Shuiming, 48; and Xu Xianpu.

The three foreigners were reported to BI officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last September 15, after being found to have stolen a handbag on a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur.

A flight attendant caught the trio in the act of stealing a handbag from the overhead stowage bin owned by a female judge.

Lyu was later seen rummaging through the victim’s personal belongings, taking valuables and cash worth P63,000.

According to BI, the suspects were transiting the Philippines from Malaysia to Hong Kong.

Officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) immediately arrested Lyu, who was found to have a valid visa to enter the Philippines while Xu and Xie were allowed to board an outbound flight.

The BI chief thanked the airline staff and the PNP AVSEGROUP for their promptness and assistance in the case.

“We will not allow these kinds of foreigners to victimize our kababayan. We will continue to monitor the progress of this case, and blacklist any other members that might be found,” Viado said.