ACTS OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz apologized anew on Monday for breaching airport security and harassing a security personnel, as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the lawmaker violated protocol.

He compared his behavior to those of women having menstruation.





“For the past three years that I’ve been member of the Congress, in a year, medyo dadapuan tayo ng (sometimes I have my) monthly period, hindi po natin maaalis na tao lang po, marupok, mainit ang ulo, stressed (we can’t deny the fact that I’m a human being, fragile, hot-headed, and stressed at work),” he told reporters.

“Humihingi na nga rin po ako ng kapatawaran sa publiko na hindi nga talaga dapat ganito umasta ang mga government official (I apologize to the public because a government official must really not act this way),” Bertiz added.

But Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus slammed Bertiz’s remarks and said that “women should not be stereotyped as arrogant and entitled during their menstrual period.”

Security footage, which circulated on Facebook over the weekend, showed Bertiz refusing to remove his shoes before Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 authorities as part of anti-terrorism measures being implemented by the Office for Transportation Security.

The lawmaker confirmed to The Manila Times via text message that he was about to remove his shoes but refused to do so after seeing “Chinese-looking” passengers allegedly bypass protocol.

Asked about the allegations of Bertiz that security screeners allowed some Chinese-looking passengers in without being frisked, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said no such passengers were found when security personnel reviewed the video.

Monreal said the country’s main gateway was under the Security Level 2, meaning all personal things or belongings of passengers should be divested from the luggage, including their shoes, and should be screened by X-ray machines.

Monreal said passengers should follow airport protocols, which are a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization. “It is worldwide. There is no exemption,” he told reporters.

“May mga pagkukulang ang congressman (The congressman had shortcomings),” Monreal said.

He said MIAA was investigating who posted the video that went viral on Facebook.

Bertiz had complained that Congress was unable to get video of bullet-planting incidents and yet the video of his tussle with the airport security personnel went viral.

With a reports from GLEE JALEA