Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 25) – House Speaker Martin Romualdez demanded that Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Chief Mao Aplasca resign from his post after a Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) security officer allegedly stole and swallowed $300 from a Chinese traveler.
READ: Authorities probe alleged theft by NAIA security officer
“I am advising the OTS chief: submit your courtesy resignation before the House of Representatives tackle the budget of your office. Mag-resign ka na. Kung hindi ka magsa-submit ng resignation, ako mismo ang magba-block ng approval ng budget ng OTS,” Romualdez said Monday. The lower chamber is currently deliberating the 2024 budgets of government agencies.
[Translation: If you do not submit your resignation, I will block the approval of the OTS budget.]
Aplasca previously served as House sergeant-at-arms under the speakership of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Romualdez said such incidents were bad for the economy, as it could taint a tourist or investor’s first exposure to the Philippines.
He called for an overhaul of the OTS, replacing its entire workforce and rehiring only those who pass a vetting process.
“Naka-strike three na ang OTS chief [The OTS chief has had three strikes]. We are already fed up with these reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport, for which OTS officials and their DOTr supervisors are ultimately responsible. A top-to-bottom overhaul is needed,” he said.
In March this year an airport security screening officer was arrested for stealing the watch of a Chinese passenger. After this incident, Romualdez said he called for a revamp of the OTS, something the agency and the DOTr committed to doing.
Romualdez asked: “What happened to those commitments? Where are the reforms?”
