Another lawmaker found himself the subject of a photo that went viral showing his parked vehicle blocking a lane reserved for persons with disabilities.
In a letter addressed to PWDs posted on his Facebook, Valenzuela Rep. Wes Gatchalian apologized for the incident, saying he already suspended one of his employees responsible for parking the vehicle at the wrong lane.
The photo that went viral showed Gatchalian’s car parked blocking a PWD lane at a restaurant on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.
He also said it was not him who was driving the car at that time.
“While it was not me who was driving the vehicle, I believe that it was my duty to ensure that my staff constantly acts in a manner that respects and is conscious of the rights of every person,” he said.
“Nothing less should be expected of my office,” Gatchalian said, stressing he supported the policies that advocate push for inclusivity and accessibility of PWDs.
Meanwhile, the security screener who recently encountered ACTS-OFW Party- list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz lll at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will no longer file a complaint against the lawmaker.
Office of Transportation Security head executive assistant Napoleon Cuaton said screener Hamilton Abdul, 27, went to the OTS office with his father saying he would no longer pursue the filing of complaint against Bertiz.
Cuato said Abdul was no longer filing a case upon the advice of his father.
“It’s up to them, but I told them the OTS is here. Whenever they need our help, they can count on us and we will support any of our employees who are doing their jobs in accordance with the law in securing the airport from passengers who might bring terror,” Cuaton added.
Gatchalian said “I continue to be a partner of the PWD community in pursuing policies and programs to make our country, especially my district, more accessible to the members of the community. Please accept my deepest apology.”
Bertiz III was criticized after a video of him supposedly trying to skirt security protocol at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport went viral.
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Ethics and Privileges is now investigating Bertiz although he has apologized for the incident.