Cathay Pacific replaces passenger's plane figure destroyed by NAIA customs officer
Cathay Pacific has replaced a passenger's toy plane that was destroyed by a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official after it was suspected that it contained illegal substance.
On her Facebook account, Rachelle Anne Ramos—an overseas Filipino worker from Hong Kong—shared that the Hong Kong-based airline took it upon themseves to send her a brand-new plane figure as replacement for the broken one.
"Thanks to Cathay Pacific Airlines Philippines for this token. I appreciated it a lot. Thanks to ma’am Anna who reach out for me after the incident happened. God bless you all po! And nice meeting you all in person po," she wrote.
Rachel included in one of the pictures the letter that the airline wrote for her. It read, "We knew how important the Cathay Pacific plane was for you. We therefore hope with this token that it brings back smiles and joy."
The unfortunate incident happened earlier this month, where a BOC agent at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was captured smashing a toy figure owned by Ramos. This was because the airport's X-ray scan allegedly detected a contraband inside the toy plane.
Since she was in a hurry to catch her next flight, Ramos allowed the agent to smash the plane figure, only to find that there was nothing inside.
After the incident, BOC Assistant Commissioner and Spokesperson Vincent Maronilla has since apologized for the act. He also explained that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officers were just being careful as incidents in the past where suspects stash drugs inside toys or speakers have happened.
Ramos meanwhile hoped that airports in the Philippines would upgrade their X-ray machines so it could scan objects more clearly and efficiently.