#TanimBala: Poe slams ‘oppressive system’ at Naia

SENATOR Grace  Poe  took to social media on Tuesday  night to lament the  unresolved “tanim-bala”  controversy  at the  country’s major airport that has  victimized overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and travelers.

“Only a few years ago, Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) was dubbed the worst airport. The leadership did a facelift, so we were able to partially improve our image, but physical form is outweighed by the real state of an oppressive system,” Poe said on  her official Facebook account.

“Worse, its frequent victims are our own OFWs. So I ask all of you: would an OFW (known as our modern day heroes) knowingly risk their job and the welfare of their family by carrying a bullet? #TanimBala,”  she further  said.

The lady senator earlier asked Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado to put an end to the proliferation of “tanim-bala” at the country’s airports within a week or quit.

She  also wants the  MIAA head to face a Senate  inquiry  on the issue and  explain  why  the  alleged modus operandi continues to happen.

“Hindi sapat na sabihing iniimbestigahan. Kinakailangan, ‘Anong ginagawa ninyo ngayon? Sinong mga nakabantay dun?’ Sana ipasok na nila ang NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) para merong independent group na nag-iimbestiga nito,” she said  in an interview  with reporters  this Tuesday afternoon.

(It’s not  enough to say that  you’ll investigate  it.  It should be: “What  are you doing now? Who are  the people in-charge?” I hope they will  allow the NBI  so there’s an  independent  group that will investigate it)

“Hayaan natin siyang mag eksplika. Sana nga po magkaroon tayo ng hearing, pero itong mga bagay na ito dapat aksyon agad. Kung kinakailangan siya na mismo ang tumayo doon para bantayan ang pagpasok at paglabas ng ating mga pasahero,” she further said.

(Let him  explain.  I hope we’ll  have a hearing but these things need immediate  action.  If  necessary, he should be  the one standing there to monitor  the passengers who are coming in and out)

Poe said she  maintained her earlier statement  that Honrado should step down from his post if he could  not  put an end to this   controversy within a week.

She recognized though  that Honrado’s resignation  would be up to him  or President Benigno Aquino III who appointed him in that post.

“Nasa kanya iyon. In fact tama siya, Pangulo lamang ang makakapagbigay ng desisyon na iyon. Pero muli siguro magandang mensahe sa ating mga kababayan na hindi natin titiisin o ito-tolerate ang kakulangan natin sa pag gawa ng ating trabaho. Dahil ito naman ay hindi dahil lamang, hindi naman permanent ang tenure ng isang maninilbihan. Dapat ito ay nakabase sa kung nagagawa niya ang trabaho niya o hindi,” said the senator.

“Sa dami na rin ng pinagdaanan ng airport na problema. Siguro naman napapanahon na makita rin natin at maramdaman natin ang isang maayos na pamamahala ng airport habang may panahon  pa sa termino ng ating Pangulo,”  Poe said.