A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer was relieved from his post at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) following a written complaint filed by a ranking Customs official for alleged “encroachment” into functions of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Customs-Naia deputy collector for passengers services Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang identified official as Undersecretary Raul del Rosario, commander of the Task Force Group on Covid-19 and a commander of the PCG and a certain PO2 Fiesta.
Mangaoang said the PCG men apologized for what they have done following a meeting last Wednesday afternoon.
Mangaoang said that the “PCG personnel ought to be educated on the mandate of the BOC,” and briefed them as well on the limitations of their jobs as detailed personnel at the premier airport.
Mangaoang sent an official letter to Admiral George Ursabi Jr., PCG, commanding general, where she cited a recent incident recorded on CCTV at the arrival area of Naia Terminal 2.
She said a certain PO2 Fiesta allegedly intimidated female Customs officer, Mona Cielo Magnaye, last December 28, 2020, while another unidentified PCG personnel was seen inspecting a passenger’s declaration form and BOC official receipt from an arriving passenger.
These PCG personnel even used the door with a “No Entry/Exit
sign every time they get in and out of Customs premises, “while we and other government employees pass through the door with metal detector and X-ray machine for bags.”
Mangaoang said that del Rosario also ordered PCG personnel not to commit incursions into Customs jurisdictions. Del Rosario reportedly promised that PCG incursions into Customs domain will not happen again.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reminded PCG personnel assigned at the Naia to be more careful of their duties inside the terminals and refrain from going beyond their assigned posts.
PCG personnel were deployed to Naia to assist quarantine officials at the start of the global pandemic. They were posted at the One Stop Shop Task Force in charge of assisting returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and non-OFWs at the airport, directing them where to proceed upon arrival.
MIAA Media Affairs Division head Jess Martinez said that they also received complaints that some of the PCG personnel are “obviously going beyond their mandate, like assisting VIP’s even if this is the job for Public Assistant Officers of MIAA.”
Martinez said only the MIAA general manager has the authority to supervise, control, coordinate, integrate and direct intelligence and operational activities of all police and military units, security, and safety units, government monitoring and intelligence units and other operating units employ by the government entities at the Naia. 30
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