Senators on Tuesday, February 21 scored officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Philippine National Police Aviation Security (PNP-AVSEC) Group National Capital Region Aviation Security, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for finger-pointing when they were asked why an aircraft involved in alleged human smuggling was able to take off at the NAIA even though it has been flagged by authorities.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on the issue, which was raised by Sen. Grace Poe during a privilege speech, Senator Jinggoy Estrada asked(PNP-AVSEC) chief Col. Rhoderick Campo why they did not assert their rights to stop the flight.
“Why did you not assert your authority as police officers? Because that is your duty, that is your right to inspect, and that is your job,” Estrada said.
Campo responded saying they could not do so because the door of the plane was already closed when they tried to stop it from leaving on the night of February 13.
“If the door of an aircraft is already closed, it is considered as in flight and the pilot in command of that aircraft is the pilot and we do not have a contact on the pilot,” Campo told senators during the hearing.
But Campo said he reached out to CAAP Intelligence and Investigation Division chief General Dionisio Robles to call the Manila Control Tower to stop the aircraft, operated by Hong Kong-registered firm Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Co. Ltd. from taking off.
When asked to verify if he indeed received Campo’s call, Robles said yes and said he advised the officer to coordinate with the MIAA as it is part of their jurisdiction.
CAAP Air Traffic Service Assistant Director General Marlene Singson also confirmed they did not get such a request to hold the flight.
“I am telling the truth, no one received a call from Manila Control Tower from the group of PNP-AVSEC,” said Singson.
Campo said they have no contacts from the MIAA, prompting Sen. Raffy Tulfo to call him out for being “inutile.”
Poe said the alleged human smuggling incident last February 13 now raises more questions regarding the lax security at the airport premises.
“The more we look into this flight the more questions arise. We see anomalies that we hope to be resolved in this investigation,” Poe said.
“This incident raises not only the possible smuggling of individuals but also non-compliance with airport regulations which puts at risk our national security,” she said.
Poe also called out MIAA for allowing the entry of vehicles simply through a declaration of its license plate without checking the identity of the passengers.
She also criticized the lack of inspection on the luggage of the supposed VIP passengers to ensure they are not carrying smuggled items, drugs, money to be laundered and other illegal paraphernalia.
Poe also said private air charter companies and local aircraft ground handlers, such as Globan Aviation Services Corporation, the one involved in the incident, should vet their passengers included in the flight.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa agreed with Poe, and revealed long-time allegations that general aviation is being used to smuggle humans, drugs, arms and even gold out of the country.
Dela Rosa said the foreign nationals who were smuggled out of the country last Feb. 13 could be involved in illegal activities that might harm the Philippines.
“It is possible that the passengers were involved in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) shooting or kidnapping incidents or they could be operatives of Chinese intelligence on special operations,” Dela Rosa said.
“That simple incidence has many implications. It is not just a violation of laws, it could reach our national security,” he further said.