OVERSEAS Filipino workers and even foreign tourists are becoming so distrustful of the people at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), considered to be one of the worst airports in the world.
Just this week, eight NAIA personnel have been caught with their criminal activities, now referred to in the media as “sex-for-flight” and “laglag bala”, which victimized unsuspecting OFWs and passengers.
A security officer at the NAIA has been arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly asking an OFW bound for Singapore for sex and money amounting to PhP35,000 in exchange for clearing her travel papers.
Four members of the Office of Transport Security (OTS) at the NAIA who have been manning the X-ray machines have also been temporarily suspended for allegedly extorting money ranging from P500 to P30,000 from passengers by planting ammunition in their baggage.
Another three personnel of OTS have been temporarily suspended pending investigation for allegedly stealing the bag of a returning OFW containing her two years’ worth of savings, electronic gadgets, her passport, tickets, and other important documents.
Filipinos are known around the world for its hospitality.
Whenever foreigners visit our country, they often praise our heart-warming generosity and friendliness that make us stand out from other nationalities.
But why does it seem that people working at NAIA have a ready smile to visiting foreigners but not to our OFWs who, as the cliché has it, are the modern-day heroes whose multi-billion remittances that keep our economy afloat. What ails our airport staff?
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado should be ashamed of how his people are conducting themselves on the ground. He should take a high moral ground by charging these erring airport personnel administratively and criminally.
Many good people I know wonder whether these passengers’ complaints against these racketeers at our airport are the kind of legacy the Aquino administration wants to leave once its term of office expires next year.
Honrado should show he is not a weak leader by firing these erring airport staff and initiating a thorough revamp of his agency. Otherwise, he should step down and allow a more competent manager to run our airport.
And unless these rackets are stopped, this will spell doom not only to the Aquino administration’s legacy of “straight path” but also to the chances of its presidential candidate, former interior secretary Mar Roxas, from getting elected in next year’s elections. GLOCAL PINOY/FJ MAGLALANG
