Security agency hits MIAA over abuse of authority

A security agency has accused the Manila International Airport Authority of abuse of authority and “excessive power for recommending the cancellation” of the agency’s MIAA security accreditation without any formal charge and proper investigation.

In a statement, the Security and Safety Corp. of the Philippines said the MIAA’s claim that it has already cancelled the SSCP’s security accreditation is “baseless, malicious and unprofessional.”

MIAA assistant general manager for security Angel Atutubo earlier said the SSCP’s accreditation was revoked after he found that “most of its employees committed illegal acts such as escorting undocumented overseas Filipino workers, sleeping while on duty, gambling, extortion and baggage fixing.”

The SSCP said Atutubo has neither informed it of any formal complaint nor furnished it with investigation reports.

The SSCP said the MIAA, under Alfonso Cusi, “is allegedly trying to rescue its airport police department, other contracted government and private security agencies and law enforcement agencies” that have been reportedly linked to human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling, robbery and extortion cases that “even resulted in the killing of a close relative of an MIAA official” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) complex.

Atutubo “should be accountable for his alleged mismanagement of our airport security, principally for issuing baseless and unfounded accusations,” the SSCP said.

The SSCP said it is asking the MIAA to form a fact-finding panel to investigate all security lapses and alleged anomalies and come up wit recommendations to improve the NAIA’s aviation security system.