A party-list lawmaker drew flak online after a video of him refusing to remove his shoes at the airport screening area went viral.
ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz was widely criticized by netizens a week ago after another video of his went viral, too.
At the time, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go had sent Bertiz as his proxy to the mass oath-taking of the licensure examination passers on Sept. 25, during which he told the passers that they would not be given their license if they did not know who Bong Go was.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 just last Saturday morning, Bertiz scolded security checker Hamilton Abdul, who had asked him to take off his shoes as part of security measures,
Bertiz then shoved his identification card to Abdul and tried to grab his ID card.
His actions were captured by the closed-circuit television cameras inside the airport.
On Sunday, the Transport Department said a thorough investigation into the incident was now being conducted.
“All reports, complaints and actual video footage are now being consolidated and evaluated. Authorities are now studying if any law or protocol has been violated,” the department said.
Bertiz claimed the story behind the video post was twisted.
But he later apologized for the way he acted when he went through the security checkpoint at the NAIA Terminal 2 domestic departure area on Saturday.
“I offer no excuse. I am sincerely sorry for my actions,” Bertiz said in a statement on Sunday.
He said he was just asking Abdul why several “Chinese-looking” people were being accompanied by airport staff to avoid the security check.
“I was wondering why those Chinese-looking individuals were being escorted by the NAIA staff while I was being prevented despite having shown my NAIA security ID,” he told the GMA News.
“I think they did this to me so I would not be able to notice the entry of the Chinese without passing through security check.
“[I] removed all metals, belts, mobile, etc. except my slip-on rubber shoes since he did not even let the others remove their shoes. That’s why I took a photo of his ID, then reported the incident and [just] walked away peacefully.”