10/04/2025
A netizen, Ann Lucero, shared her traumatic experience at NAIA involving an airport staff member who allegedly conducted a random inspection without explaining what it was for:
“Got the worst airport experience in the most ‘confidential’ airport in the world—Ninoy Aquino International Airport, today, April 6, 2025!
We checked in around 1:30 PM and proceeded to the domestic flight entrance. As part of the standard safety procedure, all hand-carry baggage and passengers go through X-ray scanning. My hand-carry included a tumbler, a bag, and a tote bag with fruits from La Union.
Before scanning, I was advised to pour out the water from my tumbler. I followed and made sure it was emptied. Then I placed my things on the X-ray conveyor and walked through the scanner myself.
Then came the traumatic part.
I was asked if the three items were mine and was told I had to go through ‘RANDOM CHECKING.’
Confused, I asked, ‘Para saan po?’ The staff replied, ‘RANDOM CHECKING LANG PO. Ako po ‘yung dadala ng gamit niyo papunta doon.’
With everything I’ve heard and read about airport incidents, I calmly insisted, ‘Ako na lang po ang magdala.’ But she was firm, ‘Hindi po pwede.’
I saw police officers in the direction she was pointing, and honestly, I thought—if I keep insisting, ako pa ang lalabas na mali. So I ended up following her to what they called the ‘examiner’s area.’
Still unsettled, I kept asking, ‘Para saan po ba ito?’ but the only answer I kept getting was, ‘RANDOM CHECKING LANG PO.’
I asked Manong Carlo to take a photo and video of me, but he was stopped. Thankfully, he managed to capture these photos. The staff approached again, this time holding a small white paper, and asked me to show my palm. I asked again, ‘Para saan po ito?’ but again—no clear answer.
She wiped the paper on my palm, my clothes, my shoes, and my bags, then placed it into a machine that looked like a microscope.
At that moment, with a nervous voice and heart pounding, I looked back and said, ‘Ma’am Lyn…’—seeking help, comfort, or at least someone familiar to assure me that I was okay.
Still overwhelmed and anxious, I looked around for any information board or signage explaining the process. But there was none. No explanation. No transparency.
After a while, she said, ‘Okay na ma’am. Patingin po ng boarding pass.’ I got my phone and showed her my e-ticket. I asked once more, ‘Para saan po ba talaga ito?’—but again, ‘Random checking lang po,’ was the only answer I got.
I told her, ‘You caused me so much nervousness.’ Then we walked away—I was shaken and anxious.
I don’t know… but my mind was already racing: What if they accused me of something? What if I got framed like those ‘tanim bala’ cases? What if something was planted in my bags? Where would I go? Who would I call? What would happen to me?
All those thoughts haunted me. Grabe ang kulba. Even while on the plane, I couldn’t relax. I kept praying that I could just arrive home safely to my family.
If there’s another airport option going to and from Manila next time, I will never choose NAIA again. That experience gave me real trauma”.