MIAA to focus on sacking officers involved in laglag-bala —spokesman

(Updated 12:11 p.m.) Amid calls for President Benigno Aquino III to remove General Manager Angel Jose Honrado from office, efforts should instead be turned to sacking those directly involved in the "laglag-bala" extortion scheme, the spokesman of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Monday.

Speaking in behalf of Honrado in a phone interview with GMA News Online, MIAA spokesman David de Castro said, "It would be good to focus our efforts on the investigation and removing the people directly involved in the matter rather than removing those who are working to resolve it."

He also said measures have been put in place to address the issue, including heightened surveillance, and concerned agencies—including the MIAA—conducting their investigations on the matter.

The Philippine National Police Aviation Security (PNP-AVSECO) is also checking whether its officers are involved in the scheme, De Castro said.

He added that as per protocol, "we automatically revoked the access passes for all [personnel of] OTS (Office of Transportation Security)."

40 face probe

During a separate press briefing on Monday, De Castro said at least 40 personnel from the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) have had their access passes revoked as they face investigation for various complaints.

Aside from complaints about the "laglag-bala" scheme, some other complaints involve extortion issues, while others "just didn't follow procedures."

"Hindi sila puwedeng pumasok sa airport," he said. "In fact, some cases go back to year 2010, since hindi pa nare-resolve ng OTS ang cases. We can't return the passes to these personnel."

De Castro pointed out, however, "Parang ang pangit tingnan kung wala tayong protection for these workers also. Made-demoralize sila if they were removed immediately from their post."

"There are many personnel [who] are dedicated to their jobs; we can't immediately remove them [from their posts]," he said.

De Castro said that as of Monday, at least five people have been named alleged victims to the scheme.

Sack Honrado

On Sunday, three lawmakers urged President Benigno Aquino III to fire Honrado over the growing number of travelers victimized by the "laglag-bala" scheme.

The scheme involves the discreet dropping of bullets, supposedly by airport personnel, into the bags of unwitting passengers to extort money from them upon apprehension.

On Monday, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya reiterated that OTS officers are required to arrest passengers found with live ammunition in their baggage, even if it’s just one bullet.

If the bullet were just an empty shell, which according to Abaya is a popular souvenir, then OTS officers simply confiscate it without making any arrests, the secretary said in an interview with Arnold Clavio on Unang Hirit.

Abaya also said on Friday in an interview with GMA News TV's QRT that they are already investigating the reports on the laglag-bala scheme.

"Iniimbestigahan namin ['yung reports]," Abaya said. "Dahil kung mayroon man ito, dapat hindi mangyari. Dapat itigil dahil mali naman talaga gawin ito."

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chair of the House committee on labor, took Honrado to task for the supposed negligence and insensitivity he has shown in downplaying the gravity of the situation.

He added that the reputation of the administration might suffer if Aquino retains Honrado in his post.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, meanwhile, said Honrado must be removed from office before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leader's Summit from November 18 to 19.

For his part, OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres is asking the President to also order a revamp of the entire MIAA, OTS, and PNP-AVSECO. —KG/RSJ/ALG, GMA News