Fuming Romualdez tells OTS chief Aplasca to resign, or else

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (rightmost) (Speaker’s office)

“We are already fed up.”

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has said that he would personally block the approval of the Office of Transport Security’s (OTS) budget if its administrator, Mao Aplasca, doesn’t resign immediately.

In a statement late Monday afternoon, Sept. 25, Romualdez told Aplasca to submit his courtesy resignation.

“I am advising the OTS chief: submit your courtesy resignation before the House of Representatives tackle the budget of your office,” the Speaker said.

“Mag-resign ka na. Kung hindi ka magsa-submit ng resignation, ako mismo ang magba-block ng approval ng budget ng OTS (Tender your resignation. If you don’t submit your resignation, I will personally block the budget of the OTS),” warned the Leyte 1st district congressman.

Romualdez vented his frustration on Aplasca following the repeated nefarious activities by OTS personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

These include reports of theft of cash by a female OTS security scanner from a departing tourist. The worker was caught on tape swallowing $300 worth of bills that was allegedly stolen from the tourist.

He said the OTS chief should submit his courtesy resignation under the principle of command responsibility to make way for full revamp at the airport security office.

Aplasca served as sergeant-at-arms in the House of Representatives during the previous 18th Congress.

The House of Representatives is currently holding the final week of the plenary debates on  the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2024. If all goes to as scheduled, the GAB will get passed on third and final reading Wednesday, Sept. 27.

Romualdez said Aplasc has had “three strikes” as OTS chief.

“We are already fed up with these reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport, for which OTS officials and their DOTr (Department of Transportation) supervisors are ultimately responsible. A top-to-bottom overhaul is needed.

“We cannot let these atrocious activities and other acts of misconduct at the airport to continue to take place. It’s bad for the country and the economy,” he said.

Romualdez asked for a revamp of OTP as early last March when money was stolen from a Thai tourist at NAIA, the country’s, main gateway. — Ellson Quismorio