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.