OTS chief Aplasca quits after Speaker's threat over dollar-swallowing incident

Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Ma. O Ranada Aplasca has resigned, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed on Tuesday evening.

Aplasca stepped down from his post days after an OTS staff was investigated for allegedly swallowing $300 supposedly stolen from a passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“Yes,” Bautista told GMA News Online when asked if Aplasca has submitted his resignation.

In a letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Aplasca tendered his courtesy resignation a day after House Speaker Martin Romualdez said he would block the approval of the 2024 proposed budget of the OTS and the DoTr should he stay in office.

“I am not in any way ready to sacrifice my organization but I consider this as a noble undertaking for a greater interest,” Aplasca said.

On Monday, Romualdez demanded Aplasca’s resignation, citing his alleged incompetence in curbing the wrongful activities of OTS personnel.

On September 8, an OTS personnel was seen swallowing a reported stolen $300 from a foreigner at NAIA.

The personnel denied the allegations and said she was eating chocolates during the incident.

Aplasca remained firm that he waged an “honest campaign against corruption in all our airports nationwide” as an OTS administrator and thanked Marcos Jr. and  Bautista “for giving me this rare opportunity to serve the Filipino People.”

“I feel it is a sacred duty of every head of any government agency expressed and solemnized when we took an oath. It is just unfortunate that as we weed out the scalawags in our ranks, it will always draw media attention and tarnish the reputation of our country,” he said.

“But I can assure His Excellency that the good men and women of OTS will not falter in its commitment to cleanse its ranks to finally deliver your promise of a convenient, affordable, safe and secured transportation system,” he added.—LDF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News