Senate probe into alleged Naia human smuggling starts

Senate Session Hall at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City, Metro Manila on March 23, 2020. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate investigation into the alleged human smuggling at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) started on Tuesday.

The Senate blue ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, looked into the issue.

The probe stemmed from Senator Grace Poe’s privilege speech on February 15.

Poe earlier said that there were individuals who were able to board an aircraft despite not being in the flight manifest. An immigration officer, however, said that the passengers were clear to travel.

The involved aircraft is operated by Cloud Nine No. 1, a Hong Kong-registered leasing firm. Local company Globan Aviation Service Corporation or Globan is the assigned aircraft ground handler.

Poe said that Globan is the same firm that attempted to bring siblings Twinkle and Mohit Dargani, involved in the Pharmally mess, out of the country.

The lady senator also noted that Naia’s restricted security areas are easily accessible and lack closed-circuit television cameras.

Poe stressed that the loose measures are a “major security risk.”

JPV