Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Former “jueteng” whistleblower Sandra Cam said on Monday she never used President Rodrigo Duterte’s name during her heated exchange with airport personnel last month.
In an interview with Pinky Webb in Monday’s Balitaan, Cam denied the alleged namedropping.
“Ako’y simpleng tao, hindi ako marunong magyabang [I’m a simple woman, I don’t know how to brag.],” she said.
When asked by Webb if she ever mentioned the President’s name, Cam said, “No, never.”
She also said that she never claimed she would soon be a member of the Cabinet.
This after reports of Cam having an outburst because she was not given VIP treatment while waitng for her Masbate trip on February 11 came out online.
According to the reports, Cam allegedly flew into a rage when questioned about her stay at the VIP lounge and told personnel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that she would be a member of the Duterte Cabinet in three months.
Once inside the VIP lounge, Cam was asked for a government ID. Cam said she showed her ATM card in the absence of any valid I.D. on hand, as it was accepted by the check-in counter.
However, the airport personnel explained that if you’re not a government official, and you cannot present an ID and have not had prior arrangement with the staff, the airport would have to charge P1,200.
“Uminit ‘yung ulo ko n’ung talagang pinipilit nila akong magbayad ng P1,200 at ‘yung government ID ko,” Cam said.
[Translation: I lost my temper since they were forcing me to pay P1,200 and to show a government ID.”]
According to Cam, she was merely escorted to the VIP lounge by an airport policeman after seeing the pre-departure area of Terminal 4 packed with people.
“Because people have to understand what I’m going through right now. Ang daming threats sa buhay ko [I receive so many death threats],” Cam explained.
President Duterte came to Cam’s defense on Sunday, stating that he might give her a position in government in exchange for helping him in his presidential campaign.
Read more: Duterte: No government post yet for Sandra Cam
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) released a statement Monday about the VIP lounge, stating that they “exercised prudence” in the incident, “bearing in mind that public service transcends all types of situations in the workplace.”
