Resign, Abaya told

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday urged Secretary Jun Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to step down in the face of the “tanim-bala” airport scandal that brought international embarrassment to the country.

Escudero, who faced the media before meeting with students of the Bataan Polytechnic State University in Balanga, said Abaya should not wait for President Aquino to fire him.

Abaya drew the ire of Escudero for saying that only a small percentage of passengers have been caught at the airport.

Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, who is running for a Senate seat in next year’s elections, appealed for compassion from the government and let the innocent go scot-free.

“Yong mga inaakusahan naman na hindi talaga may dalang bala ay dapat palayain din ng pamahalaan, kawawa naman sila kung inosente at tinaniman lang sila,” said Pagdilao.

Joining Escudero, a vicepresidential bet, and Pagdilao in Bataan were independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe and Senate hopeful Toots Ople.

Meanwhile, President Aquino called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to watch the watchers to ensure that nobody is abusing the security measures in place at the country’s airports.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the NBI has started its own investigation into the cases of bullets planted on passengers’ bags by alleged erring airport personnel as a form of extortion.

“We know that the NBI is already on deck to conduct their own investigation, kasi nga ang bilin ng Pangulo, you have to watch the watchers,” Valte said in a Palace news conference.

“It’s a general statement for government that while there are security measures, we also have to make sure that these measures are implemented properly, and that no one is taking advantage,” she added.

As this developed, personnel from the Office Transportation Security (OTS) held a silent protest at NAIA by wearing pink arm bands.

Edgar Anas, head of the OTS employees, appealed for everyone to wait for the results of the NBI investigation and stop “crucifying” them.