Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
Having an Access Pass issued by the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) does not particularly mean a privilege for legislators and government officials to evade airport security procedures.
This was the explanation of Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal on Monday following the airport controversy involving ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz.
According to Monreal, Bertiz violated the airport protocol when he refused to take off his shoes during an inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 on Saturday.
“Hindi natin masasabi na tama asal niya. Ang nakikita lang ho natin, meron siya naipakitang ID. May pagkukulang ang ating kongresista na hindi sumunod sa protocol,” Monreal said at a press conference.
“Kami ang nag-issue ng ID. Ang ID po ay isang courtesy sa ating mga legislators o government agency officials. It is not a privilege to circumvent the security protocol,” he added, referring to the Access Pass.
Monreal noted that even President Rodrigo Duterte has an Access Pass ID issued by Miaa but the Chief Executive did not request for a special treatment.
“Base sa ating protocols, ang pangulo ng Pilipinas deserve to have a VIP treatment, pero uulitin ko ang ating mahal na Pangulo Duterte ay hindi humihingi ng VIP treatment,” Monreal said.
A CCTV video recently circulated online, showing Bertiz confronting a screening officer who had asked him to remove his shoes at a Naia security checkpoint.
It also showed Bertiz shoving an ID, apparently the Access Pass, to the airport personnel and thereafter pulling the ID of the latter.
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Monreal however said the access pass ID of Bertiz would not be revoked yet since the investigation on the case is still on going. /kga