10 flight attendants of Philippine Airlines are facing smuggling charges after airport customs authorities found onions, lemons, strawberries and blueberries in their luggages.
Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang Deputy Collector for Passenger Services in her report to Airport Customs District Collector Carmelita Talusan, wrote that the confiscated regulated items were placed in the flight attendants luggages.
Atty Mangaoang in a telephone interview said that the flight attendants intentionally fails to declare in the customs baggage declaration form that they are bringing the confiscated items without necessary import permit from the bureau of plant quarantine.
Atty. Mangaoang added that the flight attendants arrived on two separate flights, PR 655 from Riyadh and PR 659 from Dubai at NAIA Terminal 1, Friday morning.
Confiscated from the flight attendants are 27 kilos of onion, 10.5 kilos of lemon, 1 kilo of strawberries and blueberries.
Customs immediately turn over to Bureau of Plant Quarantine for immediate destruction.
Charges of Smuggling for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act and Presidential Decree 1433 for Violation of Plant Quarantine Law will be filed by Customs and Bureau of Plant Industry against the 10 flight crew of Philippine Airlines.
Cielo Villaluna spokeperson of Pal said that they were already informed of the incident and is reminding all flight crew that bringing in of fruits or any plants is prohibited under Philippine Laws.
Villaluna added that pal is cooperating with airport authorities as whatever legal actions will be taken against their flight attendants. –story by Raoul C Esperas (Patrol 45)
