Recto seeks probe of abuses at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ralph Recto yesterday called for an investigation of abuses allegedly being committed by Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) personnel against tourists and balikbayans.

Recto made the call following reports of NAIA personnel planting bullets in the bags of travelers during customs inspections in order to extort money from them.

The victims would be threatened with a stint in jail unless they pay.

Recto said this modus operandi is a serious offense that could land the airport employees involved in prison for life.

“The 2013 firearms law says that if you are a public official and you plant a bullet on the person or property of an individual for the purpose of framing him, you go to jail for life,” Recto said.

He said this punishment should be imposed on the airport personnel who put a bullet in the bags of an American missionary and a balikbayan if it is proven that they indeed committed the crime.

While authorities are conducting their investigation, Recto said he will push for the Senate to conduct its own inquiry into the allegations.

“On Monday, through a resolution, I will seek an official Senate probe into the matter and into other schemes and scams that defraud, swindle, or deceive our airline passengers,” Recto said.

He said a Senate investigation is needed because the agencies operating at NAIA failed to “curb the abuses on their own. There is no working system that is guarding the guards.”

Recto said that a functioning internal affairs system would have caught the problems early on and necessary actions taken against erring personnel.