(Eagle News) — Although he admitted that he was wrong and had already apologized, ACTS-OFW Partylist Representative John Bertiz criticized the uploading of the CCTV footage saying it was a “breach of protocol.”
“I offer no excuse. I am sincerely sorry for my actions,” Bertiz said in a statement on Sunday.
Bertiz said he was shocked when the video had become viral on social media.
He said the CCTV video came from the airport and could be considered as a gross violation of the security protocol of the airport as the video was released allegedly without the approval of the authorities.
“Kung titignan ninyo, minus the caption, wala naman po talagang istorya doon sa nangyari sa video. At tsaka isa pa, naresolbahan na po namin ni GM Monreal ito, maaga pa lang,” he said referring to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal.
Bertiz said he already informed Ed Monreal about what happened immediately after the incident but said he was shocked when the video came out in the afternoon.
“Nag-apologize na rin po ako sa kanya at nagulat nga kami pareho dahil sa Sunday na kami nagka-usap pareho at may lumabas na viral video nga. Sino nag-authorize? That is the gross breach of protocol doon sa pangyayaring nai-share po yung video at ginawaan pa ng istorya at anggulo,” Bertiz said in a phone interview with Net 25’s Agila Balita Alas Dose.
The incident happened on Saturday, September 28 at the NAIA Terminal 2 domestic departure area were Bertiz was seen forcibly taking the identification card of the security personnel who was reminding him to remove his shoes as part of airport security protocol at the inspection area.
Bertiz said that his special access pass was not withdrawn by the MIAA.