Personnel from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) who allegedly extorted money from a departing foreign national on February 22, 2023 have been relieved from duty and placed under preventive suspension.
The OTS action came after a report of extortion surfaced on social media involving five OTS personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, two of whom are contractual and three job order personnel. The said video purportedly shows a departing foreign national requesting the Security Screening Officer (SSO) to return the money taken from him amounting to 20,000 yen or equivalent to more or less P8,000 which the latter was seen handing over to the passenger.
The OTS took immediate actions to identify the involved SSOs. Subsequently, they were relieved from their duty and were placed under preventive suspension and OTS investigators are now preparing to file the appropriate administrative cases.
“We would also like to pursue the filing of criminal case against them and we will seek the cooperation of the victimized foreign nationals to expedite the filing of an airtight case. This illegal act will not be tolerated and we will apply the full force of the law to penalize the perpetrators,” said Usec Ma. O. Aplasca
“They shall not only be dismissed from the service but shall also be put behind bars for their criminal acts that tarnish the reputation and integrity not only of OTS but the entire country in general. Our government has been trying to invite tourists and investors to come to the Philippines to pump prime the economy. But these corrupt OTS personnel are undermining and negating the gains of our efforts. This corrupt and illegal acts shall not be tolerated to send a strong message that we are serious in cleansing our ranks,” he added.
Since July 2022, The OTS internal cleansing program has already resulted to the dismissal of 14 erring personnel, another three were suspended, while six cases are now being resolved by the OTS Legal Service. These cases range from violation of the OTS No Tipping Policy, violation in the proper disposal of intercepted prohibited items, extortion, rude behavior, and use of mobile phone while on duty.
“We would like to assure everyone that the OTS management will exhaust all available strategies to correct the lapses in our operations by nurturing a new culture of professionalism, integrity and commitment for public service,” Aplasca said. (JERRY S. TAN)
