MIAA set to wage campaign vs illegal escort services

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) vowed to wage a serious campaign to stop the persistent illegal "escort services" being conducted by airport personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Alfonso Cusi, MIAA general manager, recently sounded a call for support for MIAA"s intensified efforts to weed out the illegal activity that continues to occur inside the airport despite supposed tight security being implemented there.

In pursuing the campaign, Cusi cited the recent issuance by President Arroyo of Administrative Order (A.O. 151 ) which widened the powers of the MIAA general manager to enforce peace and order and security and safety measures inside the international and domestic passenger and cargo terminals at the NAIA complex. Under the said A.O., the MIAA general manager as vested with the authority to institute corrective measures against violators of established airport policies, rules and regulations. Sources told The Star that the "escort services" being provided by airport workers at the NAIA was to blame for the continued influx of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to war-torn countries such as Iraq and Lebanon. Cusi urged heads of airport agencies to file and initiate administrative and criminal charges against any airport worker who will facilitate the departure of Filipinos to other countries despite the lack of proper documents, or to such countries like Lebanon and Iraq despite the prevailing ban by the government on travel by Filipinos to the said destinations.

"The heads of various agencies at the NAIA are hereby enjoined to police their own ranks and initiate the filing of appropriate cases against their personnel, who will be found to be engaged in escort services at the NAIA," Cusi said.

"Escorting travelers to ensure they are able to board their flights despite questionable documents is tantamount to human trafficking" Cusi warned.

"The MIAA is deeply involved in the fight against human trafficking though the implementation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Traficking in Persons Act of 2003," Cusi said. Reports reaching Cusi’s office say that some Filipino workers pay huge sums to avail of "escort services" to be able to board their flights without hassle. Thus, Cusi appealed to Filipino workers to altogether shun travel to banned destinations to ensure their safety and so as not to fall prey to "illegal facilitators" at the airport.

At the same time, Cusi said the problem of Filipino workers leaving for unsafe destinations like Lebanon should be addressed by various agencies of the government to stop illegal recruiters.

The MIAA chief assured that the various government agencies represented or based at the airport will look into the "escort services" problem to stop it once and for all.

Cusi said that to fight human trafficking, the MIAA has committed itself to fully implement the provisions of RA 9208 and to cooperate with all government agencies and non-governmental organizations for the protection of persons, especially women and children, against exploitation.

MIAA had recently earmarked the funds for the construction of a halfway house for women and children that had fallen victim to human trafficking at the NAIA complex. The halfway house dubbed "Bahay Silungan sa Paliparan" will be patterned after the internationally renowned halfway house established by Cusi while he was serving as the general manager of the Philippines Ports Authority (PPA).

"The construction of a halfway house is our modest contribution to the concern of our government and the international community over labor related human trafficking," he said.

Cusi said that RA 9208 implements international agreements in fighting human trafficking, including the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the International Labor Organization Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Form of Child Labor.