By Ma. Cristina Arayata
MANILA – All three screening personnel involved in a recent incident of a woman alleged to be carrying an amulet or bullet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were sacked for “abusive” behavior.
“We are announcing the termination of all people in the OTS (Office for Transportation Security) involved in the incident. Proper administrative charges will be filed after the investigation,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in a press briefing Monday. “Being in the government does not give you the license to abuse people.”
“The President will not tolerate this sort of behavior,” he added.
A social media post by 69-year-old passenger Ruth Adel went viral on social media over the weekend, narrating her experience with airport screening personnel last March 6 at NAIA Terminal 3.
She said she was on her way to the boarding gate when screening personnel approached her to tell her she had a bullet in her bag.
The personnel had different statements, laughed, and even tried to hide their name tags upon learning they were being filmed.
Dizon, meanwhile, asked the chiefs of the Office of Transport Security (OTS) and the Manila International Airport Authority to review the procedures and protocols for screening.
Newly installed OTS administrator Arthur Bisnar said he would not tolerate arrogance and abuse among the personnel.
“We don’t need to harass the passengers while securing the airport,” Bisnar said.
Both Bisnar and Dizon pointed out the lapses among the terminated personnel who admitted they were not sure whether the bag with bullet they saw on the x-ray image belonged to Adel.
Dizon encouraged the public to report such incidents immediately to the airport hotline.
“The incident happened last March 6, yet I would not be aware of it if it wasn’t reported. Don’t hesitate to report,” he said. (PNA)
