VIP PASS Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz shows an airport screener a security pass after the latter allegedly asked him to take off his shoes. —Facebook screen grab
The House of Representatives unanimously voted to reprimand embattled ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz for misconduct.
After House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez motioned to tackle via voting whether or not to reprimand Bertiz over an incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), 159 lawmakers voted on affirmative, and one on the negative, while three abstained.
Suarez said during the lower chamber’s afternoon session that any punishment against Bertiz greater than a reprimand is “severe and inappropriate.”
“Any form of punishment greater than a reprimand, such as a suspension, is severe and inappropriate,” Suarez said. “I so move that Congressman Bertiz be reprimanded.”
Besides, Suarez noted, the airport incident was Bertiz’s first offense and that the party-list legislator “already admitted his mistake and profusely apologized for his misconduct.”
Deputy Speaker and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Raneo Abu seconded Suarez’s motion.
Bertiz was hospitalized due to chest pains on October 3, a day before the House ethics panel was set to deliberate on the complaints filed against him.
READ: Bertiz in hospital due to chest pains | Bertiz hospitalized on eve of ethics probe
READ: OFW group files ethics complaint vs. Bertiz
Bertiz drew the ire of the public after he was seen flouting security protocols and confronting a security officer at the Naia last month.
READ: Solon in viral Naia video bashed
Prior this, however, a video of Bertiz – telling agricultural and biosystems engineers during their induction that they won’t be getting their professional licenses if they don’t know Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go – also surfaced and went viral.
WATCH: No PRC license if you don’t know SAP Bong Go?
He has since apologized for these incidents.
In a privilege speech also on Wednesday, Bertiz repeated his apology.
“Patawad po dahil bilang isang lingkod-bayan, hindi ako naging ehemplo ng tuwid at magandang asal,” he said.
“Ako ay pulitiko, isang public figure, at nagkamali ako. Obligasyon at karapatan po ninyo na ako ay tuligsain. At ano man ang nais na parusa mula sa inyo, aking mga kasama, upang ituwid ang pagkakamaling iyon ay maluwag ko pong tatanggapin,” he added.
But Bertiz also appealed that his family and children be spared from the controversies hounding him.
“Ako ang parusahan ninyo, huwag na po ang aking pamilya. Ang aking asawa at mga anak, wala po silang kinalaman dito. You cannot even imagine what I and my family have to go through. Do what you want to me, but please spare my family,” he said.
The lawmaker said his daughters have been receiving lewd comments on social media while his son has been accused of being a drug addict.
“Ang aking mga anak na babae ay nakatanggap ng mga malalaswa at malisyosong komento sa kanilang social media accounts. Tinawag silang prostitute; sinabihang igagang-rape; at kung ano-ano pang mga kahalayan na masyadong masakit nang banggitin pa. Ang aking nag-iisang anak na lalaki ay sinabihang drug addict,” Bertiz said. /kga