UPON receipt of the information about the recent allegations of theft involving a Security Screening Officer (SSO) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, where cash amounting to three hundred (300) US dollars went missing, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) took actions to validate the information and launch its fact-finding investigation.
The OTS has been working closely with the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security to bring those accountable to the folds of the law, and take appropriate administrative actions if the allegations are substantiated. The actions described are obviously not reflective of the code of conduct for civil servants, much more of the core values that majority of our personnel upholds.
OTS Administrator Undersecretary Ma.O Aplasca encouraged informants to report illegal activities committed by OTS personnel so as to finally cleanse its ranks from unscrupulous individuals, who attempt to bypass the preventive measures implemented by the agency since the first incident of theft was discovered during this administration. He also emphasized the preventive measures undertaken by the OTS since the first incident of theft was reported.
“Noong ma-report yung unang insidente ng nakawan sa security screening checkpoint, hindi tayo nagdalawang isip tanggalin sa ating hanay, at sampahan ng kaso yung mga anay na sumisira sa imahe ng gobyerno. Tayo mismo, ipinakulong natin ‘yung sarili nating tao. We even reported them to the public para huwag pamarisan ng iba. Iniutos rin natin yung removal ng jackets at ng bulsa ng kanilang uniform, as a preventive measure para maiwasan yung nakawan, pero it seems na mayroon pang iilan na natitirang hindi gumagawa ng maganda.” Usec. Aplasca said.
As of writing time, the OTS has identified the personnel concerned, and that gathering of evidences is on-going. We shall provide updates on the progress of the investigation as soon as they become available.
