Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto called the attention of National Bureau of Investigation to push a formal inquiry against the modus of ‘maleta gang’ which victimizes Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Recto said in his statement that OFWs are the usual victims of the modus. After much publicity on social media, Recto said, authorities must look into the matter as soon as possible.
Earlier this week, four baggage handlers at NAIA were arrested after allegedly stealing the jewelry of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s wife.
“It took a foreign VIP to lodge a complaint before authorities finally took action against a continuing crime routinely posted by its victims, our OFWs, in social media,” Recto said in a statement.
Recto said that OFWs, the primary victims of the modus are often neglected by authorities.
“When you steal from OFWs, who are returning from long and low-paying hard labor abroad, then you are an enemy of the state,” Recto added.
With this, Recto asked the NBI and other authorities to look after the people behind the modus.
“Hindi na pwede na taga-NAIA lang, tulad ng NAIA police. You have to bring in outside investigators,” he said.
Recto pointed out that with the bad reputation of the country’s airport, fewer tourists will go to the country despite the numerous beaches and tourist spots in the country.
“’Yang Maleta Gang sa NAIA ang negative effect niyan sa turismo ay tulad din ng damage na ginawa ng Maute group,” he said.
The Senator also said that money should not be a problem, especially because passengers pay for security fees. In 2014, P598 million in Airport Security Fees was collected by the NAIA management.
