DFA exec: CebuPac staff practiced caution in blocking sick boy

MANILA, Philippines — A ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs weighed in on the incident when a Cebu Pacific ground supervisor prevented a sick 12-year-old passenger from boarding a flight to Vietnam.

DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Wilfredo Santos said Mark Rotanel, the airline supervisor who deferred the boy's flight for holding an alleged "damaged" passport last Saturday, was only doing his job to ensure that the passengers will not encounter problems with Vietnam immigration or airport authorities.

"Siguro very cautious ang employee to ensure that the passenger is able to enter the country of destination," Santos said in an interview over dzMM on Tuesday.

"Siguro nag-alala ang airline, baka masira on the way or hindi tanggapin ng Vietnam kung yung loose na yung stitching," he also said.

The young passenger was suffering from congenital deformity and was about to take a trip to Vietnam with his mother and grandmother for a scheduled medical treatment.

Read: 12-year-old boy seeking treatment blocked at NAIA | CebuPac regrets misdeed on sick 12-year-old passenger

Shortly after the boy was offloaded by the airline staff, DFA responded to the appeal of Regin de Guzman Palileo, the passenger's mother, to issue him a new passport.

Cebu Pacific, meanwhile, said that it regrets the situation and made up by re-booking the family's flight to Vietnam the day after. - Camille Diola