Bertiz seeks House ethics probe into own NAIA tantrum

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III has filed a resolution urging a probe into the incident that involved him and Office of Transportation Security that went viral over the weekend and has earned him widespread criticism.

According to the House of Representatives website, the resolution was filed on Tuesday, October 2. However, a full copy of the resolution has yet to be made public.

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The resolution was filed before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges that has jurisdiction over “all matters directly and principally relating to the duties, conduct, rights, privileges and immunities, dignity, integrity and reputation of the House and its members.”

Bertiz' NAIA meltdown

Bertiz drew widespread criticism over a video that showed him disobeying NAIA’s security protocol and scolding a screener in a viral video. He initially claimed he had scolded the officer over a "Chinese-looking" passenger being escorted through security.

Office of Transportation Security Administrator Art Evangelista said Monday, however, that he had reviewed security footage from 30 minutes before Bertiz's outburst and found "there's no such incident, initially." An investigation into the confrontation is ongoing.

The OFW party-list representative has since apologized for the incident, invoking human frailty in his outburst at the airport. He said that he had been stressed in recent days.

'Monthly period' mess

He also compared his rant as to having a “monthly period,” an experience exclusive to women and has not been used by women to justify their acts.

Bertiz later explained his “monthly period” remark was “stupid” and was something he would say to his wife.

“Naging dialogue ko na lang ‘yun sa wife ko pag may topak: ‘monthly period ba ngayon?’ Yeah, that was very stupid, classic question na kinapture. Sa mga hanay ng kababaihan, isa pa ‘yun na humihingi ako ng tawad,” he said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ "The Source."

(It's just been what I tell my wife when she's 'crazy': 'Are you on your monthly period?' Yeah, that was very stupid... To women, that's another thing that I'm apologizing for.)

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez (Quezon) earlier said that there is "a possibility" that the minority bloc "may" bring the issue up with the House ethics committee.

Bong Go proxy

Prior to the NAIA fiasco, Bertiz was also in hot water for saying at an oath-taking ceremony that those who do not know presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go would not get their Professional Regular Commission license. Bertiz was at the event to represent Go, who represents President Rodrigo Duterte at some public events.

A video on social  media also showed Bertiz in a shouting match with a migrant group leader in Hong Kong. In the video, Bertiz accused the man of being "undocumented" in response to criticism that the congressman owns OFW recruitment agencies. — Kristine Joy Patag