Petty thievery hounds OTS, irks the Speaker

By Joel E. Zurbano

INCIDENTS of theft continue to plague the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) as another personnel was arrested for allegedly pilfering a cellular phone owned by a wheelchair attendant working at the airport.

This developed notwithstanding strong admonition by OTS administrator Ma. O Aplasca that he would not tolerate scalawags or abusive deeds by employees and staff of the agency.

The suspect, identified as Rudolf Aquinde, was a screening officer of the OTS.

Irked by the unabated thievery, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez had asked Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to replace all OTS personnel

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Customs Foils

DRUG SMUGGLING. Customs and drug enforcement agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport foil an attempt to smuggle P4.9 million worth of ecstasy drugs from Belgium, and take into custody the consignee who is not identified pending filing of formal drug charges.

In Brief

Tulfo eyes bigger food subsidy for AFP, PNP assigned at the Manila airport following the incidents of theft, calling it a “national embarrassment.”

SENATOR Raffy Tulfo wants to increase the subsistence allowance of police and soldiers and their personnel.

“The wheelchair attendant reported to the airport police department that his mobile phone that was at the charging station was missing. So this is prompted for the CCTV viewing,” said OTS spokesperson Kim Marquez.

Aplasca, who castigated Aquinde for the wrongdoing, said he was displeased with another blow that undermined the management’s effort to cleanse its rank.

He said Aquinde was placed under the custody of the airport police for further investigation and filing of appropriate complaint at the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

Aplasca said the filing of criminal and administrative charges against OTS personnel found committing a crime was in line with the continuing thrust of the Department and the OTS to cleanse its rank of scalawags.”

In March, the OTS was overhauled following incidents of stealing involving screening officers at the airport.

Among the cases involved screening officers Irene Medalla and Babeth Tagapan who were caught on video taking money from a Thai national last Feb. 22, 2023 at the NAIA Terminal 2.

FEEDING PROGRAM ON WHEELS.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora personally hands out free meals to his indigent constituents through the local government’s Mobile Kitchen project.