Authorities arrested a female con artist who took valuables and cash money worth P300,000 owned by a newly arrived overseas Filipino worker she duped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Nov. 13.
Agents of the Manila International Airport Authority-Airport Police Department arrested Juvy Zamora at her house in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan on Wednesday and recovered some of the stolen items and cash amounting to P65,000.
Charges of violation of Article 308 (theft) and Article 151 (disobedience and resisting arrest) were filed against Zamora before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office. The suspect is now detained at the police detention center.
Investigation showed that the victim Germelie Martin, who just arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 from Hong Kong, was waiting for a connecting flight to Tuguegarao, Cagayan when she met and was befriended by Zamora.
MIAA-APD probers said Zamora told Martin she was also a newly arrived OFW from Singapore.
When the suspect sensed that Martin was already falling to her trap, she was able to convince her to withdraw cash from a nearby ATM machine, as she told Martin that there’s no bank transaction on the following day because it was a holiday.
Martin withdrew her money and put it inside her bag—then Zamora asked her to eat something in one of the restaurants in Terminal 3.
Martin later went to a restroom followed by Zamora.
The victim even asked Zamora to look after her belongings while inside the cubicle.
But when Martin came out from the cubicle, the suspect already left and took her belongings, including her jewelry, mobile phone and passport.
Martin sought the help of APD personnel who immediately reviewed the closed-circuit television camera video footage in the area where she and the suspect met.
The APD took notice on Zamora who was a recidivist. The suspect’s first arrest was in 2012 of the same offense at the NAIA.
MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal reminded air travelers to be extra careful and warned them against unscrupulous individuals.
Monreal also ordered all security officials and personnel to be more vigilant against the presence of criminal who mixed with the influx of passengers, especially this coming holiday season.