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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider This solon thinks NAIA pest problems could be used to "destabilize" Marcos admin

This solon thinks NAIA pest problems could be used to "destabilize" Marcos admin

Published Mar 5, 2024 09:10 am

At A Glance

  • House Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon has floated the possibility that the recent pest problems at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) could be used to discredit the Marcos administration. 

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Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon has floated the possibility that the recent pest problems at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) could be used to discredit the Marcos administration.

“Posible po ba na maging destabilization ito laban sa present government? Posible po, that is my take,” Bongalon said in a press conference on Tuesday, March 5.

(Is it possible for this to become destabilization move against the present government? It's possible, that's my take.)

Over the previous week, videos showing passengers with bed bug bites as well as sightings of rats and cockroaches within the terminals of NAIA became viral all over social media.

NAIA is the main gateway in the country for travelers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) alike.

Bongalon says these incidences are “very unusual”.

“Una, surot; ngayon daga naman, hindi na dapat natin hintayin na dumating sa punto na ang tanim-bala ay bumalik na naman,” he noted.

(First, bed bugs; now rats, we shouldn't wait to get to the point where bullet-planting returns.)

The lawmaker was referring to the alleged scheme that emerged in 2015, where airport personnel "plant" bullets in the luggages of passengers in order to extort money.

Aside from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which oversees NAIA, Bongalon said the contractor of the airport’s pest control should also be held accountable.

“Kailangan palitan (They need to change) if they’re not doing their jobs, then that would probably the best and immediate solution na kailangang gawin ng administration ng NAIA (which the NAIA administration needs to do),” he added.

“Probably they can issue a certification that the aiports are now pest-free because this will put the administration into a bad light,” the lawmaker said, referring to MIAA.

On Monday, OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino filed a House resolution seeking to investigate, in aid of legislation, the issues plaguing the terminals of NAIA.

Related Tags

president ferdinand bongbong marcos jr pests ninoy aquino international airport (naia) destabilization Raul Angelo Bongalon
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