NAIA pest woes might be part of efforts to discredit PBBM admin Cautions against the resurgence of “tanim bala” scam – Rep. Bongalon

THE recent viral videos posted in social media pages showing rats and bedbugs plaguing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport may be part of a concerted effort to discredit the administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon of Ako Bicol Partylist

said during the daily press briefing Tuesday at the House of Representatives that the fact that viral pest stories were posted in succession might mean there is an effort to discredit the Marcos administration by encouraging criticisms of the country’s airports.

“Posible po ba na maging destabilization ito laban sa present government? Posible po. That is my take,” Bongalon said.

“Ito po ay kailangang tugunan ng management or mga opisyales ng NAIA and probably they can issue a certification that the airports are now pest-free. Because, again, this will put the administration in a bad light na alam natin ang airport ay gateway papunta sa ibat-ibang bansa,” he added.

He likened the controversy to the “tanim-bala” modus years back where bullets will be dropped in the luggage of passengers, all for extortion purposes.

“Napaka-unusual lang po ano. Kasi una, surot. Ngayon daga na naman. Eh hindi na po natin dapat hintayin na dumating pa sa punto na yung tanim-bala ay bumalik na naman,” Bongalon said.

“So, I guess, meron na po tayong kasamahan dito sa House of Representatives that will call for a legislative investigation with regards to this issue dahil nakakahiya po talaga sa atin,” he expressed.

For Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Erwin Tulfo of ACT-CIS Partylist, the NAIA management has no one to blame but itself in the recent viral video showing rats and bedbugs plaguing the facilities of the country’s premier domestic and international airport.

“Palagay ko ho may problema ho iyong sa NAIA management. Simple lang ho solusyon diyan eh, meron naman tayong mga pest control di ho ba? Palinisan naman yung mga upuan. Mukhang napapansin ko ho marami ang janitor doon pero wala hong pest control,” Tulfo said in the same press briefing at the House of Representatives.

“Iba ho ang trabaho ng pest control sa janitor. Maano naman ho yung silipin nila siguro … Nagkamali sila, mukhang nakalimutan nila na meron po tayong mga pest control,” he added.

Tulfo noted that the NAIA facilities are already old and the airport management should also look at making renovations for the sake of the country’s reputation to tourists.

“Saka lumang-luma na po ang building na iyan. Kailangan na po talagang magkaroon tayo nang mga ganyan klaseng maintenance. Nakakahiya na kasi. Yan po ay international airport, may mga turista tayo diyan nakakahiya po,” he explained.

“Siguro talagang napabayaan lang ng NAIA management. Ewan ko kung gusto nilang magtipid. Siguro naisip nila na ganyan kaluma na building, may mga daga talaga diyan, may mga surot, may mga ipis. Sana nag-hire na lang sila and I think that is what they are doing now,” Tulfo said.