Finger-pointing mars Senate hearing on human smuggling at NAIA

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

OFFICIALS of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the PNP-Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP) blamed one another over alleged lapses in protocols that led to smuggling of foreigners aboard a private plane that left NAIA on Feb. 13.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino pressed rep -

Australian Deputy Prime Minister to visit PH this week

AUSTRALIAN Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles will visit the Philippines and Thailand this week.

Australia and the Philippines are committed to elevating our relationship to a Strategic Partnership, as agreed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last November,” Marles said in a statement.

During his visit, Marles will meet with President Marcos Jr., National Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. and other senior government officials to discuss the “already deep ties between the two countries, including our defense forces.”

After visiting Manila, Marles will go to Bangkok to meet with Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prayut Chano-cha.

“Australia and Thailand have a longstanding partnership, including deep defense ties and an ambitious trade and economic agenda< the Australian official said.

“Australia is committed to working with the Philippines and Thailand in support of a stable, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN at its core,” he added.

According to him, Australia’s relationships across the Asian region are “founded on history, personal connections and shared interests.” resentatives from the MIAA, the CAAP, and the PNP-AVEGROUP, as well as the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on how the chartered flight with Registry No. N9527E flew out of the NAIA without being inspected.

The chartered flight was able to leave the country supposedly without a proper immigration pre-departure inspection.

Even the exact number of passengers aboard the private plane was not estab - lished during the committee hearing presided by Tolentino although a report from Dubai said seven passengers riding the said plane arrived there. Sen. Grace Poe who delivered a privilege speech on the issue said they were able to secure a copy of the flight’s General Declaration which showed that only three crew members and six individuals were on the manifest, but a BI General Declaration form showed there were three crew members and seven passengers—a

Malaysian, Korean, Chinese, Vanuata and three from Saint Kitts and Nevis.

She also received information that the seven passengers had a mix of visas from tourist, employment, and Special Resident Retirees’ visa.

Grilled by Tolentino, MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong, CAAP acting director Gen. Manuel Antonio Tamayo and PNP AVSEGROUP attempted to evade any liability by passing the responsibility to each other.

Based on the latest price monitoring, the SRP of imported red onions is ₱125 per kilogram, which covers medium and large-sized onions.

After the inspection, the authorities served two notices of violation against some of the retailers at Agora Public Market due to failure to comply with the SRP.