SPEAKER Martin Romualdez yesterday demanded for the resignation of Office of Transport Security Mao Aplasca “for failing to stop repeated nefarious activities by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).”
“I am advising the OTS chief: Submit your courtesy resignation before the House of Representatives tackle the budget of your office,” Romualdez said.
“Mag-resign ka na. Kung hindi ka magsa-submit ng resignation, ako mismo ang magba-block ng approval ng budget ng OTS (Resign already. If you don’t submit your resignation, I will block the approval of the proposed budget of the OTS for 2024),” Romualdez warned.
The House leader was particularly displeased by reports involving a security screener who was caught on closed circuit television camera (CCTV) stuffing dollar bills into her mouth which she allegedly stole from a Chinese passenger.
He said the OTS chief should submit his courtesy resignation under the principle of command responsibility to make way for a full revamp of the airport security office.
“Naka-strike three na ang OTS chief (The OTS has already received three strikes). We are already fed up with these reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport, for which OTS officials and their DOTr (Department of Transportation) supervisors are ultimately responsible. A top-to-bottom overhaul is needed,” he said.
“We cannot let these atrocious activities and other acts of misconduct at the airport to continue to take place. It’s bad for the country and the economy,” he also said.
The Speaker pointed out that a foreigner — whether he is a tourist or a potential investor — gets his first exposure to the Philippines and its people when he encounters a government employee who processes him at the port of entry.
“An ugly incident will certainly leave a discouraging and lasting impression. This is the reason why we should deploy the finest personnel at ports of entry,” he said.
In March this year, when money was stolen from a Thai tourist at NAIA, the leader of the 311-member House of Representatives already recommended a complete revamp of OTS.
The Speaker said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista “should closely watch his own backyard.”
“Every now and then, we hear of nefarious activities, aviation glitches, power equipment malfunctions and disruptions, and similar nasty things taking place at the airport. There may be people sabotaging him,” he said.
