It’s been utterly disappointing and frustrating hearing news of improprieties committed in public by some congressional party-list representatives, especially on my part who strongly supported last elections’ top winning party-list.
I say so although I completely trust that my comrades in the Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support will never be involved in abusive demeanor of any sort. ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo and Niña Taduran are some of the finest fellows I’ve known and they will prove to be productive and relevant lawmakers, as we promised.
But I’m just sick to my stomach hearing another party-list congressman screwing up. Just days before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, a party-list representative punched a waiter in Legazpi City, Albay for not recognizing him.
This time, another neophyte lawmaker pulled a bomb-scare at NAIA’s Terminal 2 last week. APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc was irked by a Philippine Airlines check-in counter attendant, who asked was in his bag other than clothes, as it exceeded the allowed 11kgs on carry-on baggage.
“Bomba!” Dagooc arrogantly replied, prompting the PAL agent to call the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group who invited the abusive congressman to the terminal 2’s police station.
To cut the story short, Dagooc claims it was “only a joke” and, through his lawyer, invoked Article 6 Sec. 11 of the 1987 Constitution which states: “A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.”
PNP ASG station 2 commander P/Major Querico Tomotorgo said they were compelled to release the suspect despite the complaint of PAL representatives.
Look, it was clear that Dagooc violated Presidential Decree 1127 titled: “DECLARING AS UNLAWFUL THE MALICIOUS DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION OF THE WILLFUL MAKING OF ANY THREAT CONCERNING BOMBS, EXPLOSIVES OR ANY SIMILAR DEVICE OR MEANS OF DESTRUCTION AND IMPOSING PENALTIES THEREFOR.”
PD 1127 was issued by President Marcos at a time when national security was threatened by terrorists, as it is now by the communists and Islamic State (ISIS).
Article 6 Sec. 11 does not exempt law violators from criminal charges. Therefore, PAL must pursue the case.
Corporate Communications Department chief Ma. Cielo Villaluna said the flag-carrier leadership takes the matter of bomb pranks as a serious offense as they can possibly cause panic among thousands of travelers at the airport.
It can cause stampede, death and serious injuries to people, among them pregnant women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities.
“Malicious dissemination of false information knowing the same to be false resulted in grave inconvenience to the flight, its passengers and succeeding flight services,” said Villaluna.
I agree with PAL officials who decried the swift release of lawmaker. He is clearly liable for criminal and civil damages, and which case should have been presented to a DOJ prosecutor or fiscal. The PNP Operations Procedure manual states that an apprehended person shall be subjected to "inquest proceedings" within the time prescribed in Art. 125 of the Revised Penal Code.
In fact, PAL may file a complaint against Dacoog with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Late last year, then-ACTS-OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz was caught on a video showing him not following the screening procedure at the NAIA Terminal 2, flashing his airport access pass and snatching the ID card of the screening officer during their argument.
No wonder congressmen are portrayed in some teleseryes as abusive and corrupt government officials.