VP Sara Duterte composite image from PNA and Inquirer photos
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have supported Vice President Sara Duterte’s calls for tighter security at the airports, but they have reminded her that public service involves surrendering a degree of privacy, especially in public places.
They reminded Duterte after she said during Tuesday’s Senate hearing on her office’s proposed budget, that she is concerned about her security as a media worker in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) was able to take photos of her and her family before leaving the country for Germany amid the onslaught of Typhoon Carina last July 24.
Because of those photos, Duterte was criticized for continuing her trip while many parts of the country were being battered by the typhoon and the southwest monsoon. She said on Tuesday that the media worker should not have been permitted to be on Naia’s premises.
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During a press briefing on Wednesday, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin said that while she respects the Vice President, airport security should not be tightened for a particular person or family.
“She is correct about securing the airport. We have security there, but not for the purpose of securing a certain person or a certain family. The security of an airport is there to secure all the passengers and to maintain peace within our country,” she said.
“You know when you enter a public place, you expect many people to be there. So if somebody takes a picture…of course they know you, she is famous, many would ask for pictures. It’s something that is expected in a public place,” she added.
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La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V believes Duterte’s issues about her security are not a public concern.
“For me, it’s not a public concern because regular people do not complain about security. It’s a personal concern. I think when she was in the airport, she was the most secured person there,” he said.
1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, meanwhile, said that having media personnel inside airports should not be an issue because reporters are assigned to cover the country’s points of entry and exit.
“So if we’re going to talk about the security of one’s privacy, we can’t really expect much privacy as private persons if we go to public areas. Then how much more for public officials?” Gutierrez asked.
“So it’s possible that this (taking of photos) happens. If there are lapses in security, someone has to be held liable, but if I understand correctly, for our friends in the media, those in the industry, there are really beat reporters assigned at Naia precisely to pick up news and information such as this,” he added.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong reminded Duterte that in the Philippines, public officials surrender a degree of their privacy.
“Very thin line. When we talk about security, I would really support any move or any proposal to secure public places, especially airports where people from different walks of life, inbound and outbound passengers converge. Definitely, it’s one of the things that we need to maintain, the security of all our public places,” Adiong said.
“But in terms of privacy…in the Philippines, there seems to be an interplay between a public servant, a public official, and that of a celebrity…So once you enter into public service, you somehow surrender a certain degree of privacy, unfortunately. And that’s been the problem not only of one individual public official but it is actually shared by all of us,” he added.