I pitch in my two cents’ worth in the Tulfo-Santiago NAIA brawl not so much because it involved celebrities but it underscores the Filipino public’s vulnerability to security risks courtesy of highly unprofessional security officers in the world’s worst airport.
Of course I also have a take on the scuffle drama itself but I reserve my additions to the gossip mill later.
The now popular 58-second YouTube video clip clearly shows at least five or six security officers in the middle of the melee.
Lacking was the authority and assertiveness that should have come with the presence of persons in authority as those “sikyos” looked more like high school kids breaking up a small fight.
You can see the security officers, in their not-so-assertive uniforms that command no authority, at a loss on how to put an end to the fight.
The best they did was push or pull the people involved like they were just berating a couple of unruly kids throwing insignificant blows at each other.
In short, the incident shown worldwide was a farce and embarrassment that demonstrated the height of unprofessionalism and unpreparedness of NAIA security officers in controlling violent situations and suspects.
A simple fight like that they cannot control, what can we expect if involved a more serious threat as a terrorist attack?
Certainly Journalist Ramon Tulfo and Movie Actor Raymart Santiago or his wife Claudine Barreto (or any of the other suspects in their party) were not terrorists but it is not far-fetched having an analogy that highlights the possible risks the public faces because of sheer incompetence of NAIA security.
The security officers should have demonstrated skills on using overwhelming force, perhaps even taser guns, to subdue both Tulfo and Santiago and his party but clearly, they have no training whatsoever to that effect. All of the suspects should have been taken down, cuffed and hauled to cells.
If you are in the security, police or military business or field, one would rightfully think you must be fit and well-trained in self-defense and offense. It is the exact opposite for security officers in NAIA, if not in the whole country. Shame.
This reinforces my pet peeve about these Filipino security guards who are in every nook and cranny in the Philippines, perhaps in every business establishment no matter how small and yet without the qualifications and training to provide, well, security.
Worse, how did they end up being hired in NAIA in this age of substantial terrorist threat? They cannot overpower and control a small group of rowdy suspects, now I shiver at the thought about how they would react, Heaven forbid, if there were a group of Abu Sayyaf attackers at the airport.
NAIA general manager Jose Angel Honrado’s assurance that they will not conduct a formal inquiry is equally scary, repulsive and disgusting.
He is proud to announce that they are not competent enough to investigate and would leave matters to the court.
That is irresponsible because NAIA management, at least its security department, should still be held accountable when the public’s welfare is at stake.
And yes, the public’s welfare and safety was threatened in the Tulfo-Santiago brawl because someone other than the journalist and movie actor could have been hurt.
Now we wonder why a lot of people do not look forward to arriving at NAIA when they visit the Philippines. I didn’t make this up, this is already known worldwide:
NAIA not only is aesthetically deplorable, it is confusing, crowded, lacking of amenities and comforts, and now it is even bereft of competent security personnel that can protect us. Isn’t that re-assuring.
Santiago and his thugs swung those punches with impunity and the security guards just watched and nobody, even NAIA’s top management. sees that as a grave concern.
Let us all just pray then if the next disruptive people at the country’s premier airport would be brandishing bombs.
