Isabela 6th District Rep. Inno Dy has expressed alarm over the separate incidents of crime committed by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on foreign visitors that have occurred mere days apart, saying these would affect the country’s tourism prospects if left unchecked.
“Nakaka-alarma po ang mga pangyayari. And this is deeply embarrassing. We urge those tasked with managing the NAIA to take concrete action to check these incidents. Madadali po ang tourism prospects natin kapag hinayaan nating manaig ang ganitong sistema,” said Dy, who is a member of the House tourism committee.
Fourteen OTS personnel have already been dismissed since July last year over various offenses, while three others have been suspended. Six cases remain under investigation by the agency’s legal department.
On March 1, a security screening officer (SSO) of the Office for Transportation Security at the NAIA Terminal 1 was seen on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage taking the watch of a Chinese passenger at a security screening checkpoint.
Earlier, five OTS personnel had also been placed under preventive suspension after videos showing them allegedly extorting money from a departing Thai tourist at the NAIA went viral on social media.
Fourteen OTS personnel have already been dismissed since July last year over various offenses, while three others have been suspended. Six cases remain under investigation by the agency’s legal department.
Dy called on the government to implement modernization measures that would help minimize the discretion that airport personnel have over travelers.
“Ang nakikita lang natin sa ngayon ay iyong mga nahuli dahil may naglakas nang loob na mag-reklamo, at nagkataong nakunan ng video. Pero napakarami pong horror stories na sangkot ang mga airport personnel.
“We cannot allow the status quo to continue. We need to invest in more equipment and review our processes at the airport to weed out all possible sources of corruption and other crime,” said the lawmaker.
On March 1, a security screening officer (SSO) of the Office for Transportation Security at the NAIA Terminal 1 was seen on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage taking the watch of a Chinese passenger at a security screening checkpoint.
An immediate process that airports have to implement is in adopting the system in other countries where bags normally go through an X-ray machine and would only be subjected to partial or full physical checks if these trigger an alarm.
He said that unless changes are made, the government would find it difficult to attract the 4.8 million tourists it has targeted for this year.
“Mahihirapan tayong abutin ang target dahil mananaig ang takot gawa ng negatibong reputasyon ng mga airport natin. Kaya sana sa lalong madaling panahon ay ayusin na natin ang mga problema,” said Dy.
The solon said that he is also considering calling for a congressional inquiry into the issue.
