2 seamen beat up Dutchman at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino seamen ganged up on a 62-year-old Dutchman after the foreigner’s bag fell on one of them while it was being taken out of the airplane’s overhead compartment at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The three were brought to the Police Investigation and Intelligence Division office at NAIA for questioning.

Action officer-on-duty Fred Vasquez said Filipino seamen Henry Austria Rafols, 23; Michael Duenas, 24; and Dutchman William Pleter Schouten, who is married to a Filipina, were seated on row one of KLM Dutch Airlines that arrived from Amsterdam.

Rafols told airport police he and Duenas stood up and took their luggage from the overhead compartment when the plane stopped at NAIA’s Bay 1.

When Schouten opened the compartment, his bag fell on the head of Duenas, he added. Rafols said Schouten started shouting at them while they were walking at the con-course.

Without saying anything, they punched him on the jaw when airport policemen pacified them, he added.

Airport policemen Quintin Balantac and Romeo Alejandro responded to a radio call from airport police Corporal Susan Viray who was stationed near Gate 9, Vasquez said.

After a few minutes, the three decided to settle the matter amicably and signed an agreement in the presence of airport policemen.

Schouten was met by his wife outside the NAIA terminal. – Rudy Santos