Staff at the airline intentionally ruin traveler's passport; individual misses connection to Dubai.
Title: 65-Year-Old Filipina Passenger's Passport Torn, Barred from Dubai Flight
Straight-Up Story:A 65-year-old Filipina woman, Maeveline Ann Sulib, faced a distressing ordeal when her passport was allegedly torn apart by a Cathay Pacific staff member during check-in at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Lapu-Lapu City. The disfigured passport prevented her from boarding Flight CX948 to Dubai, where she was scheduled to reunite with her children for her birthday.
After her passport failed to scan three times, Sulib was kept waiting. Upon returning, the supervisor admitted the tear was unintentional and claimed consultation with immigration officials was forthcoming. However, she was told she would not be allowed to board the flight, leaving her in tears.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) swiftly launched an investigation and requested clarification from Cathay Pacific. The DOTr ordered the airline to explain the alleged passport mishandling by May 1, 2025.
The precise cause of the passport damage remains under investigation, with potential factors being mechanical defects, human error, or the fragility of the passport paper itself. To prevent future occurrences, MCIAA plans to Look into staff retraining, equipment evaluation, and exploring the use of more reliable tools.
Sadly, Sulib's daughter, Faith Pamsula based in Dubai, revealed that the incident disrupted their plans to celebrate her mother's birthday, resulting in canceled hotel bookings, travel arrangements, and lost goods. Pamsula also shared her mother's hospitalization due to high blood pressure and expressed concern over the lack of formal documentation or confirmation regarding the airline's promised remedies.
The airline's perceived lack of urgency in addressing the issue sparked public outrage, resonating with recent reports of "punitive passport" (torn passport) cases under investigation.
Facts First:
- Passenger and Flight Details: A 65-year-old Filipina traveler was supposed to board Cathay Pacific Flight CX948 from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Dubai, violating her plans to reunite with family for her birthday.
- Damage to Passport: During check-in, the Cathay Pacific staff allegedly damaged the passenger's passport, causing it to be invalid for travel.
- Consequences: The damaged passport led to the passenger being barred from boarding her flight, causing significant distress and disrupted plans to celebrate her birthday.
- Official Response: The DOTr has ordered Cathay Pacific to explain the passport mishandling, and the MCIAA has launched an investigation.
- Public perception: The incident has intensified scrutiny over airline handling of travel documents and gained traction due to its similarity to recent "punit passport" cases under investigation.
- Despite the damage to her passport, allegedly caused by a Cathay Pacific staff member at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, a 65-year-old Filipina traveler named Maeveline Ann Sulib was unable to board Flight CX948 to Dubai.
- The lifestyle of Sulib's daughter, Faith Pamsula, based in Dubai, has been affected by the undamaged passport incident, causing the cancellation of hotel bookings, travel arrangements, and lost goods.
- The General News media continues to follow the Cebu incident, comparing it to the ongoing crime-and-justice investigation of 'punitive passport' cases.
- In the midst of public outrage, Cathay Pacific Airlines was ordered by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to explain the alleged passport mishandling by May 1, 2025, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has launched an investigation to identify the precise cause.
- To prevent future damages, MCIAA plans to assess staff retraining, equipment evaluation, and explore the use of more reliable tools for handling travel documents.
