Execs point fingers during Senate probe on alleged Naia human smuggling

PRIME GATEWAY Foreign tourists arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Officials were pointing fingers on Tuesday when the Senate blue ribbon committee discussed why an aircraft involved in alleged human smuggling took off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The panel, chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, is investigating the issue, which was raised by Senator Grace Poe in a plenary session.

During the hearing, Senator Jinggoy Estrada asked Philippine National Police Aviation Security (PNP-AVSEC) Group National Capital Region Aviation Security chief Colonel Rhoderick Campo why they did not assert their rights to stop the flight.

“Why did you not assert your authority as police officers? Because that is your duty, that is your right to inspect, and that is your job,” Estrada said.

Campo argued: “If the door of an aircraft is already closed, it is considered as in flight and the pilot in command of that aircraft is the pilot and we do not have a contact on the pilot.”

The colonel then reached out to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Intelligence and Investigation Division chief General Dionisio Robles to call the Manila Control Tower to hold the flight.

But, CAAP Air Traffic Service Assistant Director General Marlene Singson said that she did not get such a request.

“I am telling the truth, no one received a call from Manila Control Tower po from the group of PNP-AVSEC,” said Singson.

Campo insisted that he made such an effort.

Robles then recounted that he received Campo’s call.

Robles said he advised Campo to coordinate with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) as it is their jurisdiction.

“MIAA po ang may hawak sa tarmac po. Wala pong kinalaman ang CAAP d’un sa area na ‘yun,” Robles pointed out.

(MIAA handles the tarmac. CAAP does not have a jurisdiction there.)

Poe, during her privilege speech, said that the incident happened on February 13, 10 p.m. and the flight was bound for Dubai.

Some of the passengers were not in the General Declaration but were processed by the immigration and were pronounced “clear to travel.”

The aircraft is operated by a Hong Kong-registered firm Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Company Limited. Its assigned aircraft ground handler is Globan Aviation Service.

Globan’s name earlier floated when it attempted to transport Twinkle and Mohit Dargani, siblings tagged in the Pharmally scandal, out of the country.

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JPV