Duterte Warns Erring Airport Personnel

Jan. 6—President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to sack airport personnel who allow travelers to slip into the country.

In his televised public address on Monday night, Duterte warned that airport personnel would be removed from their posts if he learned of just one incident of unauthorized travel.

"There are reports that some people are skipping, na nakakalusot sila with the help of airport personnel at sa mga barko. I say this now as I have said it before: do not do it kasi mayayari talaga kayo (because you will be punished)," Duterte said.

"You do it by allowing unauthorized travel when all of us are really worried of containing the contamination. Almost every country now is controlling the entry and the departure of their citizens," he added.

The President did not identify the officials allegedly involved in the scheme but said he would replace those who failed to have international travelers undergo quarantine.

He warned that they could suffer the same fate as the immigration personnel who were dismissed over alleged involvement in the pastillas scam where Chinese travelers were allowed unimpeded entry into the country in exchange for grease money.

The President also warned travelers against getting fake health certificates.

___

(c)2021 The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines)

Visit The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines) at www.manilatimes.net

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.