Five months after the uproar over the “tanim-bala” scam which plagued the country’s airports, vice presidential contender and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the government failed to bring back order to the lives of the victims.
Citing the example of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Gloria Ortinez, who was wrongly accused of carrying a live bullet to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Cayetano said the victim remains jobless.
“Nawalan ng trabaho dahil tinaniman ng bala. Pero imbes na itama ang pagkakamali at alisin ang gulo sa buhay ni Aling Gloria, walang ginawa ang gobyerno para bigyan siya ng alternatibong kabuhayan. Mas masahol, ang malalaking isda na nasa likod ng tanim bala ay hindi pa rin napaparusahan,” Cayetano said.
It was reported that Ortinez was terminated by her foreign employer just days after her arrest in October 25, 2015.
Cayetano said that, if elected, he will eliminate the climate of fear at the country’s airports. The senator also pledged to hold accountable all those behind the scam.
“Bibigyan natin ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon ang problemang ito,” Cayetano said.
“First, we will dismantle all the syndicates operating inside our airports and jail all those behind these groups. Second, we will pursue the cases I filed against several public officials who are administratively liable for the scam,” Cayetano explained.
“Third, we will abolish all unnecessary permits and procedures for OFWs, and establish a department solely dedicated to protect and promote the welfare of OFWs. Ang nangyari kay Aling Gloria ay hindi na dapat maulit. Tama na ang hirap at gulo. Panahon na para sa sumaya ang Pilipino,” Cayetano ended./Office of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano