Recto suggests body cameras for airport personnel manning X-ray machines

House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto in this file photo taken when he bids farewell to his colleagues in the upper chamber in 2022. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vildal

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto has suggested using body cameras for airport personnel manning X-ray machines in light of recent theft incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Recto, in a statement on Friday said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should consider this proposal as a measure against future similar incidents.

Recently, at least two theft cases were reported in Naia — one where two Office of Transportation Security (OTS) were caught stealing money from a Thai national and another wherein a screening officer took the watch of a Chinese traveler.

“The DOTR should consider purchasing body cameras for OTS personnel manning X-ray machines and other airport security checkpoints that put them in close contact with passengers,” Recto said.

READ: 2 NAIA workers axed for stealing from Thai tourist 

READ: NAIA screening officer nabbed for allegedly stealing watch of Chinese traveler 

According to Recto, providing body cameras for airport workers with close contact with travelers would not only protect tourists but the personnel as well as they can present concrete evidence if they are wrongly accused.

“This simple device would deter pickpockets in uniform and at the same time ward off rude passengers who harass airport personnel who are just doing their duty.  A bodycam protects the checker and the checked,” he explained.

“May footage habang binubuksan ang isang bag na may kaduda-dudang laman. At may resibo kung ang bag naman na iyon ay inatake ng salisi gang na naka-uniporme,” he added.

(With this, there would be footage while a bag with questionable contents is being searched.  There is a receipt if the bag is targeted by a thief in uniform.)

Recto further noted that DOTr could not say that it has no budget for such measures because airports collect fees whenever passengers pass through these X-Ray machines.

“The DOTR and the Office for Transportation Security cannot plead poverty in not buying bodycams, a device even food riders have, made affordable in this age of livestreaming.  Ang X-ray machines ay parang toll gate. Bawat pasaherong dumadaan ay bayad ng P60 na Airport Security Fee (ASF) kung sasakay ng international flights at P15 kung domestic,” he said.

(The X-ray machines are like a toll gate. Each passenger who passes through pays a P60 Airport Security Fee if riding an international flight and P15 for domestic flights.)

“Dahil ang ASF ay naka-tuck-in sa ticket ng eroplano, kaya walang malay ang mga pasahero na bayad na sila sa takilya ng OTS. Kaya naman ang gross allotment or budget ng OTS ay lampas P1 bilyon bawat taon. In 2021, P331 million ang appropriated ng Congress, may konting automatic appropriations, at ang pinakamalaki ay ang P693 million mula sa ASF at ibang port usage fee,” he added.

(Because ASF is tucked into the airplane ticket, passengers don’t know they are paying for that.  That’s why the gross allotment or budget of the OTS exceeds P1 billion per year: In 2021, only P331 million was appropriated by Congress, aside from automatic appropriations, and the biggest chunk of their budget is the P693 million from ASF and other port usage fees.)

X-ray machines are usually placed at the entry zones of the airport, like in Naia Terminal 3, and before passengers cross the immigration counters on the way to the terminal gates.

According to OTS, screening officer Valeriano Diaz Ricaplaza Jr., 31, was arrested after a Chinese traveler reported missing his watch.  Ricaplaza denied seeing the watch, but a review of the camera footage of the closed circuit television (CCTV) showed that the airport staffer took it from the blue tray where belongings are placed.

“He was brought to the CCTV room to view the incident himself, and was immediately arrested and now in the custody of the PNP-AVSEGROUP (Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group) for further questioning,” said the OTS.

As a preventive measure to these incidents, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) ordered the enforcement of a “no pocket policy” for the uniform being worn by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

READ: ‘No pocket policy’ for airport personnel in NAIA amid theft cases — MIAA 

JPV/abc