Two immigration officers figure in physical altercation at NAIA Terminal 3

MANILA — Two immigration officers figured in a scuffle Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, authorities said.

Initial investigation found that one female immigration officer advised a female colleague that her partner needed to start paying child support.

Their conversation escalated into a shouting match and ended in a physical altercation where the two pulled each other’s hair and traded slaps in full view of the passengers.

Airport general manager Eric Ines said that he will request Bureau of Immigration commissioner Joel Anthony Viado to conduct a separate investigation.

“Nakakalungkot ang insidente na ito at nakakahiya. Sana kung may personal silang problema ay pag-usapan nila nang tahimik at hindi sa harapan ng mga pasahero na umaalis gamit ang paliparan,” Ines said.

(This is a sad incident and very embarassing. If they had an issue, they should have settled it quietly and not in front of passengers catching flights at the airport.)

The two immigration officers have been relieved from their post pending investigation. Ines has also recommended the cancellation of their airport access passes.

Viado has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.