Speaker to chief airport screener: Quit ASAP

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Office for Transport Security should have the delicadeza to resign amid the cases of alleged theft involving OTS screeners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

Romualdez called for the resignation of OTS chief Mao Aplasca after a female screener was recorded on closed-circuit television footage swallowing $300 in bills allegedly stolen from a Chinese passenger.

“I am advising the OTS chief to submit his courtesy resignation to the House of Representatives panel hearing the budget of your office,” Romualdez said.

House members are set to review tomorrow the Department of Transportation’s budget for 2024. OTS is an attached agency of the DOTr.

“If you don’t submit your resignation, I will block the approval of the OTS budget,” Romualdez said.

He said Aplasca should be held administratively liable for command responsibility for “failing to stop the repeated illegal activities by OTS personnel at the NAIA.”

“It’s already strike three for the OTS chief. We are fed up with reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport. A top-to-bottom overhaul is needed,” Romualdez added.

The OTS has dismissed screener Billy Garcia who was recorded on CCTV footage allegedly taking some items from a passenger’s luggage at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Sept. 13.

NAIA security heightened

Meanwhile, authorities have tightened security at the NAIA following an explosion at the airport’s parking area over the weekend.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said they would enforce heightened security at the NAIA.

Wanky disputed the National Capital Region Police Office’s statement that security at the NAIA is weak, saying the explosion was an “isolated case” and “not a cause for alarm.”

Based on investigation, he said the blast was not a terrorist act.

Three cars were damaged after an improvised explosive device went off at the parking area of the NAIA Terminal 3 on Saturday. No one was injured.

PNP public information office chief Col. Jean Jajardo said disgruntled airport employees could be behind the Molotov blast. — Mark Ernest Villeza