Soldier seeks DTI probe of ‘Korean-only’ airport lounge

ILOILO CITY—An Army officer, who accused the management of a private airport lounge in Aklan of discriminating against Filipinos, has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to investigate the operations of the lounge.

In a four-page letter sent to DTI Aklan Director Diosdado Cadena Jr., 1Lt. Ryan Layug asked the agency to check the licenses and permits of foreign-owned and -operated businesses and ensure that these comply with Philippine laws.

He also asked the agency to monitor the services of these businesses, especially “how ordinary Filipinos” are treated by the establishments.

Layug, executive officer of Bravo Company of the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion deployed to Surigao del Norte province, earlier accused the management of the Korean-operated lounge of refusing him services on Jan. 1 because the lounge catered purportedly only to Koreans.

Layug alleged that a Filipina staffer of the lounge told him that the lounge was for Koreans only and later said it was fully booked.

Reached by the Inquirer by phone, Layug stood by his allegations despite the denial of the lounge’s staffer.

“I saw that there were vacant seats. I raise the protest not only for us Filipinos but for other nationalities as well,” he said.

He said he was not against Koreans, saying he had Korean friends.

“If they do not have a policy limiting their guests to Koreans, then that’s good. But if I’m right, things should change,” he said.

But John Lee, manager of the lounge, said there was only a misunderstanding between Layug and the staffer, but Layug refused to listen and became very angry.

“It was true that there were empty seats when (Layug) came because we were waiting for guests to arrive,” Lee told the Inquirer.

Lee said he asked the staffer what she told Layug but the soldier refused to listen and hurled invectives at him, he said.

“How can we refuse access to Filipinos when we are working in the Philippines? Anybody can use our lounge as long as there are vacant seats. It’s a misunderstanding,” Lee said.

Cadena said he has to see the complaint but said they will also verify the allegations.