Bertiz apologizes over NAIA incident but says viral video 'spliced'

ACTS OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz III on Monday said the viral video showing him arguing with security personnel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was "spliced," but apologized for the incident nevertheless.

Bertiz drew flak from netizens for supposedly refusing to remove his shoes as part of security protocol under Security Condition Level 2 at NAIA Terminal 2. 

"Unang-una humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa publiko lalung-lalo na sa netizens, yung pagkaka-post ng video at pagkakalagay ng caption. Ganun pa man, merong other side of the story," he said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Bertiz said he merely wanted NAIA security personnel to apply protocol to all passengers as he noted that passengers of "other nationalities were not asked to take their shoes off.

"Sana, kung patatanggal mo sa akin yung sapatos, 'dun pa lang [before x-ray], and then hindi mo hinayaan yung, I think it was two Koreans o Chinese nationals, who just passed na hindi rin tumunog na may rubber shoes," said Bertiz.

The lawmaker, who nevertheless apologized for the incident, said an "escort system" at the airport made it possible for certain individuals to skip security checks.

"Ang hugot ko kasi dun, we are receiving so many reports of escort system sa airport, biktima ng mga human trafficking, yung mga minors na kitang-kita mo sa harap mo, pati yung mga ninanakawan," Bertiz said.

Bertiz had also insisted that he only showed his ID to the security checker to indicate that he has an all access pass and implied that it was the checker who acted rude.

"It so happens na, by the way, I have also access pass. Since wala naman pong tumunog, I thought he's going to let me go," Bertiz said.

"I have to report this, sabi ko sa kanya, ayaw niyang ibigay pangalan niya, tinatakpan niya sa loob ng jacket niya. Tapos bigla sinabi niya sa 'kin, sino ka ba? Ginanon niya ako. Na-shock ako, kukunin ko lang ID mo," he later added.

Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal said Sunday they are already looking into the incident. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News