American spits on airline employees

MANILA, Philippines – Police officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 detained an American man overnight for allegedly spitting on two airline employees Thursday night.

Michael Barry Tallent, 31, was late for his Philippine Airlines flight for Los Angeles and was visibly angry when he learned he could no longer board the plane because the designated check-in counter for his flight was already closed, police said.

Not content with the explanation given by passenger service agent Janel Pecson, passenger service manager Wilbert Banzuela and supervisor Adelma Dayrit, he cursed at the airline employees.

“The passenger threw his passport in front of Banzuela and… suddenly spit on Banzuela and Dayrit,” Police Officer 3 Crismael Dario said in his report.

Dario said Banzuela called his attention and he placed Tallent under arrest, but not before the American spit on Banzuela a second time.

Tallent was brought to the Aviation Security Group’s office but was released after the airline employees failed to show up for his inquest proceedings on Friday, police said.

He would have been charged with slander by deed and unjust vexation, police said.