ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—An American national allegedly flew into a rage at the Zamboanga City International Airport Sunday afternoon after he was barred from entering the departure terminal for failing to pay P40 terminal fee.
Senior Insp. Victoriano Bato, Aviation Security Group Chief, told the INQUIRER a certain Michael Raymond Chase, who introduced himself as a member of the US Marines, lost his temper and threw invectives at the security forces and guards detailed at the airport when his attention was called for failing to pay terminal fee.
“I was informed by our duty personnel that the blue guards and even security forces had a hard time trying to calm him down,” Bato said.
“Fortunately, two American soldiers bound for Manila called up their colleagues at the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines and took him (Chase),” Bato said.
But Rogelio Valesco, city councilor and Tourism Committee chair, said the American was reportedly working for a private dairy firm.
“I was told that he was under the influence of liquor and refused to pay P40 terminal fee. He was cursing the airport personnel with the ‘F word’ and that he was not able to take his flight for Manila last Sunday afternoon,” Valesco said.
Bato, however, said they will not file charges against Chase “because there was no serious damage [reported] at the airport.”
Tina Malone of the public affairs of the US Embassy, in a text message said Chase was “not an active duty US Service member nor is he connected in any way with JSOTFP.”
Malone said Chase “is a US citizen working for a private company who was in Zamboanga on business.”
She said US personnel of the JSOTFP “who happened to be nearby at the time, did provide assistance at the scene of the incident.”
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command, said there are around 100 US personnel at the JSOTFP.
“The US forces have been assisting and advising the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ anti-terrorism units at the Western Mindanao Command. They also conduct Civil and Humanitarian assistance to ensure factors that breed terrorism are eliminated and they conduct all these activities alongside with the AFP,” Cabangbang said.