The Bureau of Customs has reminded the Philippine Coast Guard of its duties and responsibilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the time of pandemic to avoid a similar situation that happened recently when a PCG officer reportedly encroached on the bureau’s functions and intimidated a female Customs officer.
In her letter to PCG commanding general Admiral George Ursabia Jr., Customs deputy collector for passenger service Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang cited the incident captured on video at the NAIA Terminal 2 where a Coast Guard personnel identified as PO2 Oidor Fiesta allegedly accosted and intimidated Customs officer Mona Cielo Magnaye.
“The seemingly ignorant PO2 Fiesta questioned the authority of Customs personnel at the Customs Arrival Area,” said Mangaong in her Jan. 21, 2021 letter to Ursabia.
“There have been similar incidents in the past whereby PCG personnel would encroach on Customs premises like entering the Customs Cashier’s office, which should be a sanitized area, and sometimes they [would] sit on the Customs examination table where pieces of baggage and goods under examination are placed. They would close Customs lanes, which is a violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and push baggage carts, which is prohibited by the MIAA.”
Mangaoang said there were also instances when “they removed stanchions” that are placed in certain locations as agreed upon between the Customs and Manila International Airport Authority for specific reasons and purposes, adding that the removal of stanchions without authority was a violation of the MIAA housekeeping rules.
“Please enlighten your personnel who are temporarily detailed at the NAIA that the whole area where the baggage carousels are located up to the exit is part of Customs premises,” said Mangaoang.
Mangaoang says the jurisdiction of the PCG pursuant to Republic Act 9993 covers only the maritime areas, and there is nowhere in that law that grants the PCG jurisdiction over airports.
“We understand that PCG personnel were directed by the Inter-Agency Task Force to assist arriving Overseas Filipino Workers in NAIA while the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, which is actually not among the functions of the PCG as provided by law. We accept their presence and support them in their assigned tasks here in NAIA. However, they must be aware of the mandated presence and authority of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine agencies here in NAIA,” she said.
In a reply to Mangaoang, PCG Task Unit Terminal 2 commander Eddyson Abanilla said he “relieved PO2 Fiesta from the lobby area and reassigned him to the station in order to pacify the heated situation.”
Abanilla claimed that what happened last Dec. 28 was that two Customs employees opened their employee exit which resulted in the division of the main exit into two.
He said Fiesta talked to the Customs officer and asked her to close the additional exit considering that other passengers attempted to use same which might jeopardize the usual process of the passengers at the lobby area.
“If returning OFWs and non OFWs leave the premises without surrendering their Affidavit of Undertaking, the possibility of tracing a passenger who breach the quarantine protocol in their designated quarantine facilities will be compromised. Moreover, PO2 Fiesta told the Customs officer that if the additional exit is highly needed, a proper signage should be put stating that it is for employee use only and to put a security that would guard the said exit.
“It is not the intention of PO2 Fiesta to intimidate the female Customs officer “since he is well aware of the duties and responsibilities of each agency inside the airport. PO2 Fiesta PCG is willing to execute a written apology as demanded.”