Benjamin Hwang, a Brazilian of Chinese-Korean descent, arrived less than hour at the NAIA terminal 2 before takeoff for his Hong Kong-bound flight at around 6 p.m.
According to airport authorities, Hwang was waiting for his checked-in baggage to be offloaded from the plane after he was declared a "no-show" by the airline when he suddenly ran amuck.
He barged into the Bureau of Immigration office at the terminal’s arrival immigration area and berated a hapless immigration officer, Winston Vitan, whom Hwang had mistaken for a PAL employee.
According to Vitan, Hwang grabbed his cellular phone and hurled it against the wall and then wrestled him. Hwang also trashed the office in his anger.
Immigration officers and airport policemen rushed to Vitan’s aid and took blows. They soon subdued Hwang, who they later learned was a martial arts expert.
When he sobered up, Hwang begged Vitan, his fellow immigration officers and PAL employees for forgiveness. They decided not to press charges.
"Well, Mr. Vitan has decided to not to pursue a complaint against Mr. Hwang, so the matter is considered closed," Ferdinand Sampol, head supervisor of the Bureau of Immigration airport office, told The STAR.