EDITORIAL - Little to love at NAIA

From arrival to departure at the Philippines’ main gateway, it’s no fun. In February this year, a Thai tourist’s last memories of his visit in the Philippines were of being shaken down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by personnel of the Office for Transportation Security. The OTS staff returned the 20,000 yen (about P8,000) to the departing passenger after noticing that he had recorded his ugly experience on video.

This occurred just two weeks after a female OTS security officer was shown on video giggling as she patted down members of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN at the pre-departure security area, in violation of no-contact security protocols, while other airport staff took videos of the group members. It’s unclear if the woman was sanctioned for her unprofessional behavior. The failure to impose appropriate penalties can breed impunity and a breakdown of discipline.

Last Sept. 8, a departing Chinese passenger complained that he had lost $300 in his carry-on bag after it was inspected by OTS personnel. A review of closed-circuit television footage showed a female OTS officer taking the $300 and then bundling it up and swallowing it as the Chinese complained about the theft. Another OTS employee was shown handing bottled water to the suspect, who appeared to be having difficulty swallowing the dollar bills.

In the age of terrorist attacks, airport security cannot be taken for granted, and entrusted to giggly fangirls and thieving personnel. Many OTS employees are reportedly new hires or under contract. There is such a thing as training, however, and proper deployment depending on skills levels.

It’s embarrassing enough that the NAIA suffers from periodic power outages, inadequate toilet facilities, poor ventilation