Migrante files complaint vs Bertiz over alleged misconduct

MANILA, Philippines — After apologizing four times, Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III (ACTS-OFW party-list) now faces ethics complaint as labor group Migrante International filed an ethics complaint against the lawmaker.

Migrante filed ethics complaint over Bertiz’s alleged misconduct before the House of Representatives. They were supported by Makabayan bloc during the filing of the case.

This is in relation to the viral video where he was seen not following the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s security protocols and supposedly intimidating airport security personnel.

In a press conference, the two groups also presented an overseas Filipino Worker, Shiela Mabunga, who worked as a house helper in Riyadh in 2014. She was recruited by Bertiz’s recruitment firm Global Asia Alliance Consultant Inc. which she accused of “human trafficking.”

“I found out that I have different employer in my contract and working visa. This is a proof that Congressman Bertiz is a human trafficker,” Mabunga said in Filipino.

Mabunga’s father also faced the members of the press to attest to her daughter’s ordeal.

On Monday, Migrante United Filipinos in Hong Kong criticized Bertiz for berating and confiscating the ID of the airport security screener.

The group is calling for the removal of Bertiz as an OFW representative. UNIFIL, Migrante Chair Dolores Balladarez-Pelaez said the lawmaker is “not even an OFW” and a “habitual abuser of authority.”

“ACTS-OFW representative Aniceto ‘John’ D. Bertiz III is not even an OFW. He is in fact an owner of one of Philippines’ biggest recruitment agencies. He is arrogant and disrespectful even to the people he claims to represent. He is a habitual abuser of authority,” Balaldarez-Pelaez said.

The migrant group also cited another viral video of Bertiz where he was seen shouting at UNIFIL Migrante Secretary General Emmanuel Villanueva over the issue of overseas employment certificate. The “shouting match” video was supposedly taken in January 2017 in a dialogue in Hong Kong.

Bertiz earlier issued apologies for the Hong Kong incident and for his misbehavior in the airport.

His explanation, however, drew flak as he attributed his NAIA tantrum to his "monthly period." 

Bertiz does not actually menstruate, but it is common even in 2018 to ascribe emotional behavior to the monthly period.

On Tuesday, women’s groups Gabriela and Every Woman slammed Bertiz for this remark.

Every Woman said that Bertiz has become the norm of how government officials should behave under a “regime that thrives on misogyny."

Bertiz apologized anew for this remark citing it was “stupid.”

“Naging dialogue ko na lang ‘yun sa wife ko pag may topak: ‘monthly period ba ngayon?’ Yeah, that was very stupid, classic question na kinapture. Sa mga hanay ng kababaihan, isa pa ‘yun na humihingi ako ng tawad,” he said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ "The Source."

(It's just been what I tell my wife when she's 'crazy': 'Are you on your monthly period?' Yeah, that was very stupid... To women, that's another thing that I'm apologizing for.)

READ: Bertiz sorry for using 'monthly period' in apology for NAIA tantrum

'Bertiz’s monthly period excuse a sexist stereotype'

The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday also criticized Bertiz for not following the airport’s security protocols and making “monthly period” as his excuse.

In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said Bertiz has resorted to stereotyping women’s menstruation as an “unreasonable” excuse. It added that the solon’s remark is “sexist.”

“By claiming his actions as part of his monthly period, he is perpetuating the harmful stereotype that woman is menstruating can be dismissed as unreasonable, moody, and overemotional and would react in a similar fashion as he would have,” the CHR said.

“Many menstruating women can go through airport’s security measures everyday without issue, because they are aware of how crucial it is to ensure the safety of everyone on the airline,” it added.

De Guia said that as a civil servant,  Bertiz “is bound by law to abide by the standards of professionalism as set in the Code of Conduct and Ethics standards for public officials and employees under the Republic Act 6713."

“His refusal to follow procedure was putting his personal interest over the public’s,” the CHR said.

“Furthermore, his abuse of position of power to intimidate or threaten a NAIA employee violates the required standards of justness and sincerity,” it added.

CHR is hopeful that Bertiz “can take responsibility for his actions without resorting to sexist stereotypes.”

Meanwhile, the Office for Transportation Security said Bertiz violated airport protocol. OTS Administrator Art Evangelista said that as part of the executive branch, they would have to wait for the decision of Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the penalty for Bertiz.