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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Worst airport? NAIA's image even worse now due to uniformed 'pickpockets'--Recto

Worst airport? NAIA's image even worse now due to uniformed 'pickpockets'--Recto

Published Feb 28, 2023 05:46 pm

The already terrible image of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has worsened following the shenanigans of the uniformed "pickpockets" at the country’s main gateway.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila Bulletin file photo)

Thus, opined House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto, as he castigated certain Office of Transport Security (OTS) personnel over their very injurious act of allegedly stealing from a Thai tourist at NAIA.

The incident, which took place as the foreigner underwent security check, was caught on video.

"A few erring OTS employees have dealt the nation a black eye. Na-tag na nga ang NAIA as one of the world’s worst airport, lalo pang pinalala ng insidenteng ito (NAIA's previous tag as the world's worst airport has been worsened by this incident)," Recto said in a statement Tuesday, Feb. 28.

According to Recto, the viral footage of the OTS personnel has "inflicted a reputational damage which could cancel gains from DOT’s (Department of Tourism) P1.27 billion branding offensive this year".

He reckoned that it would "take more than the prosecution of erring personnel to erase the unfair impression that the X-ray machines of our biggest airport are manned by pickpockets".

"Our airport and transportation officials should roll out new programs that will assure the whole world that our airport security checks are not holdup points," the former Senate President pro tempore said.

Recto said these measures should include the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that will plug blind spots and will blanket security checkpoints under constant and complete monitoring "to deter the repeat of the much assailed theft".

He said the OTS staff--whom he described on the whole as "honest, respectful, and industrious"--shouldn't become collateral damage due to a few erring employees.

"It is also for the sake of their reputation that punishment be meted out to the guilty. And it is in our national interest that we unveil initiatives that would convey the comforting message that our airport personnel while thorough are trustworthy," Recto said.

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Pickpocket ralph recto OTS NAIA
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