Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — Former partylist lawmaker Aniceto “John” Bertiz III, who previously drew flak for “harassing” airport security personnel, has been appointed as Deputy Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the appointment on Monday.
He said, with Bertiz’s experience as the former representative of ACTS OFW, he is expected to provide skills development programs to thousands of returning OFWs to allow them to find new jobs.
“With the reparation of thousands of overseas Filipino workers to the country, Mr. Bertiz has a huge task to fulfill, which is, to provide these returning Filipinos quality-assured and inclusive technical education and skills development,” Roque said in a statement.
Bertiz was involved in a viral incident in 2018. He was seen going through Ninoy Aquino International Airport security, then he appeared to forcibly take the ID of an airport personnel. He argued the staff did not perform the same security checks on “Chinese-looking nationals.”
The lawmaker has since apologized for the video, saying his actions were “uncalled for” as a public official.
