A teenager from Cameroon injured five security guards at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Thursday night after allegedly attacking them with a chair and a belt.
Airport police said the 18-year-old, identified as Floriant Ndzeng Atangana, ignored repeated reminders to stop roaming around and leaving the holding area. The situation escalated when Atangana reportedly shouted profanities and struck the guards with nearby objects.
Those hurt were identified as Roderick Pagulayan, Leofel Niño Laurilla, Christopher Naparate, Nursiya Narawi, and Katrina Mae Riel. They received first aid after security chief Jio de Castro responded to the scene.
Authorities noted that Atangana has been tagged as an inadmissible passenger by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The guards involved have yet to decide if they will file charges.
In a separate development, immigration officers at NAIA Terminal 3 stopped two Filipinos believed to be trafficking victims as they prepared to travel to Cambodia via Don Mueang Airport in Thailand. Officials said the individuals, aged 25 and 37, presented fake employment papers and later admitted they had been recruited to work in an online company abroad.
Investigators learned one of the travelers claimed he was pressured to proceed, fearing his friend in Cambodia would be harmed if he backed out.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado condemned the tactic, saying traffickers are now using emotional coercion to control victims.
“These syndicates are heartless. They prey on the fears and relationships of their victims to force them into compliance. What’s alarming is that the exploitation begins before they even set foot abroad. This shows how urgent our anti-trafficking efforts must be,” Viado said.
The two passengers have been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Meanwhile, BI officers also arrested Norwegian national Maryath Stig Ljunggren, who is wanted in Oslo for alleged sexual abuse of a minor between 2014 and 2020. He is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.
“Our #Shieldkids campaign is intent on ensuring that foreigners who have committed sexual abuses will be banned from the country. These types of criminals, who commit vile acts against the most vulnerable, are not welcome here,” Viado said.
