200 passengers stranded at NAIA sleep under trees, expressway

Around 200 stranded passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have resorted to sleeping under the trees and near the expressway after their flights were cancelled.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras," some of the locally stranded individuals at Terminal 3 refused to leave the area to be able to catch the next avaiable flight.  Others no longer have a place to stay.

"Natutulog lang po kami dito, diyan, doon, tapos umuulan wala kaming masilungan. May ticket po kami kaso kinansel nila nang kinansel ng hindi namin alam," Mae Anne said.

She said she has been waiting at Terminal 3 for a flight to Davao City for three days, but lamented she could not yet secure a new schedule.

"Kumpleto naman po kami. May rapid test, may travel authority, may barangay certification, may clearance po kami. Bakit ayaw kami pasakayin," she added.

Mae Anne was applying for  job abroad in Manila when the lockdown was imposed, leaving her stranded.

"Gusto lang po talaga namin umuwi. Lahat po kami dito, gustong-gusto po umuwi kaya nanghingi po kami ng tulong," she said.

Another stranded passenger, Norhana, said they have no choice but to wait at the terminal because they were told they could no longer return to their previous accommodation.

"Sabi ng agency namin kapag umalis po kami sa accommodation namin, hindi na po kami puwede bumalik. 'Yun po 'yung pinirmahan namin," she said.

The airlines explained that General Santos City has temporarily stopped accepting incomng passengers after it reported a COVID-19 case, while Davao City has limited flight arrivals.

"Sa mga LGUs, binigyan natin sila ng discretion depende sa sitwasyon nila. Lalo na 'yung talagang zero cases sa kanilang mga probinsya like island provinces," Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific said some passengers were denied barding because of incomplete documents.

"Hindi sila pasakayin ng flights and masakit man sa amin 'yun, wala tayong choice dahil ito po ay requirement ng gobyerno, sumusunod lang po tayo," corporate communications director Charo Logarta said.

On Wednesday afternoon, several personnel of Cebu Pacific talked to the passengers and noted their flight details. They were also grouped according to their destination.

Some of the stranded passengers were told to go home while those with no places to stay will stay in a tent that will be set up at the parking lot of Terminal 3. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News