Officials say Bertiz violated airport security protocols

MANILA, Philippines — The Office for Transportation Security on Monday said Rep. Aniceto "John" Bertiz III violated protocol after he was seen refusing to undergo a security check and berating the screener at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in a viral video.

OTS Administrator Art Evangelista said the solon clearly committed a “breach of protocol” when he declined to take off his shoes at the final checkpoint in the domestic departure area of the NAIA Terminal 2 last Saturday.

READ: Solon scolding NAIA security screener in viral video says sorry

He was also seen forcibly taking the identification card of the security personnel, who was later on identified as Hamilton Abdul, which drew flak on social media. Online users described Bertiz as “disrespectful.”

“Pag pinagbasehan natin ang video, mayroon breach of protocol. Ang linaw naman eh. Kayo ba gagawin niyo 'yun na agawan niyo ng ID yung naka-duty? (If you based it on the video, there is a breach of protocol. It’s clear. Will you do the same, snatch the ID of the security personnel?” Evangelista said in a recorded press briefing.

Evangelista cited that in the same CCTV camera footage Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos was seen following the security protocols so he questioned why Bertiz could not follow the same procedure.

Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal also said in a press briefing on Monday afternoon that Bertiz has no authority to take the screener's ID.

No penalty for Bertiz yet

Asked for the penalty that Bertiz would face following the “breach of protocol,” Evangelista said as part of the executive branch they would have to wait for the decision of Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hindi ko pa madesisyunan 'yan (I cannot decide on that), I have to wait for the secretary of DOTr as well as the president but definitely may violation siya (definitely he has violation),” the transport official said.

Malacañang, however, said it is pending judgment on the matter as it has not yet received the investigation report of MIAA.  

"I would rather wait until the investigation is completed because right now, we do not know what happened. We will issue a statement siguro when we have received the investigation report from (MIAA). For now, let us defer any statement and any judgment on the incident," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a briefing Monday.

Palace: Duterte does not ask for VIP treatment

Roque said that even the president complies with airport security checks just like any passenger. 

"Let's learn by way of example from what the president is doing," he said.  

"He goes through the X-ray machine, and he does not ask for any special treatment."

Monreal explained that only the president is allowed a VIP treatment. He added, however, that they are not yet revoking the NAIA security ID given to Bertiz.

In the video, the lawmaker was seen flashing his security ID before the airport screener.

Monreal explained that the security ID given to legislators is a courtesy and does not mean they could circumvent security protocols.

Evangelista, meanwhile, said non-politician violators of security protocols are usually not allowed to pass through the checkpoint and are barred from traveling because they are “considered a threat.”

He stressed that airport officials follow international standards which call for a mandatory search of passengers and their baggage.

“Remember, security of aircraft and passenger is paramount,” Evangelista said.

On Sunday, Bertiz apologized for his actions.

'Remove Bertiz as OFW representative'

Despite this, migrant group United Filipinos in Hong Kong still slammed Bertiz for scolding and confiscating the ID of the airport security screener.

Dolores Balladarez-Pelaez, UNIFIL Migrante chair, said they are calling for the removal of Bertiz as an overseas Filipino worker representative. She said Bertiz is “not even an OFW” and a “habitual abuser of authority.”

“It was Bertiz who violated the airport security protocol, a security measure that only the Philippine president can be exempted. The least he could have done is to humbly apologize and go through the security screening again,” Balladares-Pelaez said in a release.

“But no! His trapo ego was so hurt that even after ignoring the security personnel, he still went back just to scold him and illegally confiscate the poor man’s ID. That is a totally unacceptable behavior for someone who wants to be addressed as an ‘Honorable’ congressman,” she added.

The group also cited that another viral video of Bertiz where he was seen shouting at UNIFIL Migrante Secretary General Emmanuel Villanueva over the issue of overseas employment certificate. The “shouting match” video was supposedly taken in January 2017 in a dialogue in Hong Kong.

On Monday, a document dated March 15, 2018 indicating that Bertiz has been expelled as the vice president of ACTS-OFW also resurfaced. The document stated that it was received on March 23, 2018 by the House of Representatives.

Bertiz, however, denied this and said the House leadership did not get the copy of the letter.

The airport incident controversy on Bertiz came just days after he was implicated in a viral video where he was speaking before new engineers in a Professional Regulatory Commission event. He threatened not to grant the licenses of those who do not know Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Bertiz apologized for both the Hong Kong shouting match video and the PRC event. He said he “lost his temper” in the former while his remarks for the latter was intended to be a joke. — with Alexis Romero