The Airport Press Club (APC) has criticized the removal of one of its members from the Viber group of APC and OTS (Office for Transportation Security) after the said member criticized the OTS for long lines caused by the shoe removal policy at airports.
OTS chief Ma.O. Aplasca directed Froilan Morallos’ removal, and his spokesperson Kim Marquez deleted him.
The APC officials felt slighted by the situation and criticized Aplasca and Marquez for “mishandling the situation.”
They argued that the situation should have been handled more professionally, with Morallos being contacted first through private message or on the same Viber group.
They also criticized Marquez for not trying to dissuade Aplasca from being onion-skinned or handling the situation herself first.
APC members noted that Morallos had been accommodating OTS press releases without expecting anything in return and had been fair during times of extortion complaints and loss of items from passengers involving OTS personnel.
The OTS recently came under fire following a series of thefts involving screening security officers assigned at the country’s premier airport.
Among the controversies include the case of screening officers Irene Medalla and Babeth Tagapan who were seen in a video taking money from a Thai national last Feb. 22, 2023, at NAIA Terminal 2.
OTS personnel Valeriano Diaz Ricaplaza Jr. was also arrested by the PNP Aviation Security Group on March 1, 2023, for taking a watch owned by a Chinese national. He was also dismissed from the service motu proprio.
Another OTS screening officer was arrested for taking a mobile phone owned by a wheelchair attendant working at the airport.
From 2022 up to March 10, 2023, a total of 61 OTS personnel were sanctioned. Of the number, 18 were dismissed, 26 were reprimanded, three were suspended, and 14 were submitted to the Legal Office for review.