Taxpayers’ money wasted on corrupt OTS staff, solon laments
EMPLOYEES of the Office of Transport Security (OTS) are well-paid with taxpayers money.
This is according to Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto as he condemned a few erring OTS employees who were caught stealing money from a foreign tourist.
According to Recto, the national government has allocated P1.27 billion for tourism promo, however this was harmed by images of pickpockets in the airport.
“Dahil may budget ito na P346 million sa taong 2023, lumalabas na gumagasta ang taxpayers ng halos P1 milyon kada araw para sa pasweldo at operations ng OTS,” Recto said.
The OTS in NAIA is now in hot water after a video of some employees stealing money from a Thai tourist went viral. At least five of them were involved and now await a criminal case.
Recto added that portions of the terminal fee (P300 from each domestic passenger and P750 from foreigners) are shared to OTS.
These mandatory fees are paid by passengers on the guarantee that their belongings are protected, not pilfered by employees of the very same agency to which they have made the payment.
“ A few erring OTS employees have dealt the nation a black eye. Na-tag na nga ang NAIA as one of the world’s worst airports, lalo pang pinalala ng insidenteng ito. That viral footage has inflicted reputational damage which could cancel gains from DOT’s P1.27 billion branding offensive this year,” Recto said.
