OFW group files ethics complaint vs. Bertiz

ACTS OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto ‘John’ Bertiz shows an airport screener a security pass after the latter allegedly asked him to take off his shoes. FACEBOOK SCREENGRAB

A group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has filed an ethics complaint against ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III, claiming that he does not legitimately represent Filipino workers abroad.

In its complaint, Migrante International, through its chair Arman Hernando, told the ethics committee of the House of Representatives, that Bertiz was not qualified to hold a congressional seat, especially after his recent actions.

“A series of his unacceptable actuations in public, as well as his manifest conflict of interest with OFWs, have made him unqualified to represent the sector,” Hernando said in the complaint.

“His conduct and ideals are unbecoming of an OFW representative.  Thus, we seek for his outright removal from office,” he added.

The complaint, which is backed by petitions of OFWs, said Bertiz also had a conflict of interest for being the owner of several recruitment agencies.

“Si Bertiz ay nagmamay-ari ng dalawang recruitment agencies kabilang ang pagiging President at CEO ng Global Asia Alliance Consultant Inc., isa sa mga pinaka-malaking recruitment agencies sa Pilipinas,” they said.

“Siya ay recruiter at hindi OFW kaya’t salungat ang kanyang interes sa aming interes at hindi siya namin maaaring kilalaning lehitimong kinatawan sa Kongreso,” they added.

Other reasons cited were his alleged rudeness towards OFWs, his alleged corruption, placing OFWs in Kuwait in danger after his involvement in botched rescue operations, and his other allegedly anti-OFW advocacies.

The filing of the complaint hit a snag, however, over certain technical issues, like the lack of a sworn statement.

“Ito ay na-isampa na pero may mga technical requirement, kailangang i-habol na lang, lalo na ‘yong affidavit,” an official of the ethics committee said.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, who accompanied Migrante in the filing, said they would follow up the affidavit.

Bertiz has faced a deluge of criticisms in the past few days after he joked that those who did not know Special Assistant to the President Bong Go would not receive professional licenses.

In another incident, he refused to remove his shoes during a security check at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, taunted a security staff member and flashed his VIP pass instead.

When Bertiz asked for understanding, he reasoned out that he got “monthly period” every once in a while, referring to the supposed mood of women when experiencing menstrual cramps. /cbb

READ: WATCH: No PRC license if you don’t know SAP Bong Go / Solon in viral video bashed / Solon apologizes for behavior, blames ‘monthly period’