MIAA executive probed for human smuggling try

MANILA, Philippines - The security chief of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) went on leave yesterday to allow an impartial investigation into an attempt to fly 69 Filipino workers to East Timor aboard a chartered flight without going through normal departure procedures.

Retired Gen. Angel Atutubo, MIAA assistant general manager for security and emergency services, said he does not want to be accused of interfering in the investigation being conducted by MIAA general manager Melvin Matibag.

“It would be better for me to take my vacations temporarily to give my superiors a free hand in the ongoing investigation,” he said. “I know that I would be absolved of the accusations being leveled against me because I did nothing wrong.”

Matibag said he has asked the National Bureau of Investigation, the Task Force on Human Trafficking and other related agencies to look into the case.

Last Sunday, at around 3:30 a.m., 70 oil rig workers were set to depart for East Timor aboard a chartered plane, Air North, which came from Australia and is kept at a remote parking area.

Matibag’s action officer, Manuel Rodriguez got wind of an alleged plot to allow the passengers to board their plane without going through the usual route, where they would be subjected to X-ray and body searches.

Matibag showed up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and subjected the passengers to a thorough questioning. He found out that of the 70 passengers, only 69 showed up, five were found to have deficient travel papers.

Matibag said he was informed that Atutubo signed a permit allowing the passengers, two mini-buses and two cars to enter the ramp area. Once inside the tarmac, the passengers were to be transferred to authorized buses and brought to the waiting jetliner.

However, Atutubo said he was not informed that the vehicles had passengers, and added that a separate a passenger manifest was never shown to him.

“The passenger manifest was in the hands of another airport official,” he said.

Matibag suspected that the ploy was to smuggle the passengers without going through the usual procedure because some of the passengers have illegal documents. Matibag is the chairman of the Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking.