Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Francis Tolentino (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA - The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (SBRC) is expecting new reforms at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as it ended on Monday its investigation on the alleged human smuggling at the airport as revealed by Senator Grace Poe during her Feb. 15 privilege speech.
Blue ribbon committee chair, Senator Francis Tolentino, urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to be consistent and steadfast in enforcing its policies and to be fair to all passengers.
“Bear in mind that what we are doing here is to reform the system,” said Tolentino in his statement as he was closing the probe.
“We realized the current flaws, but we enjoin the government agencies here present. We enjoin the (Bureau of) Immigration to be steadfast and be consistent in enforcing immigration policies even in the general aviation area,” he added.
He also urged the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP) to discuss the current system, especially on police exit and MIAA clearances.
"Who should have the final say? The police exit clearance or the or the CAAP clearance before a plane, a private plane departs. And the delineation of the runway, tarmac, and exit ways should be clarified likewise. You can have joint offices. Hindi naman kelangan magkahiwalay (No need to be separated)," the blue ribbon committee head said.
The committee, Tolentino added, would expect to receive recommendations from concerned various agencies on how to improve the system.
During the previous hearing, Tolentino found a lack of coordination between the PNP-AVSEGROUP and the control tower as the reason why the private plane, which allegedly carried "unauthorized individuals", was able to depart from NAIA bound for Dubai.
MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said they would continue to investigate the incident and vowed to penalize those responsible.
Chiong also said that they are also working to make the 1,661 solar-powered CCTV cameras installed in the airport function non-stop.
Last month, Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, revealed in her speech that human smuggling took place at NAIA after an aircraft carrying individuals not included in a flight manifest was able to depart the country. (PNA)
