Rep Castelo chides NAIA for lack of CCTV footage on Tulfo-Santiago brawl

CASTELO CHIDES SEEKS NEW POLICY ON COMPULSORY CCTV COVERAGE ON PUBLIC PLACES

Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo (Liberal Party, 2nd Distrrict of Quezon City) today expressed surprise over the admission of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport management that it had no closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the fight between Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo and the group of showbiz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto, saying it shows what he has described as “incompetent management” on the part of the NAIA authorities.

Castelo, author of RA 5971, which seeks the submission of CCTV footages to police probers in incidents involving criminal activity, said he was contemplating to seek a new policy, either by legislative or executive fiat, on the compulsory installation of CCTV cameras to sensitive areas prone to the commission of crime.

Castelo made the statement as NAIA General Manager Angel Honrado said the brawl on Sunday afternoon did not have any CCTV footage because it occurred at the baggage conveyor area, which is not covered by airport CCTV cameras.

“This is unusual because the baggage conveyor area is sensitive to theft. Any person could just filch any baggage from anyone,” Castelo said.

“Besides, the global threat of terrorism is real. Ho could we cope with those threats if we don’t have CCTV cameras? Castelo said.

While saying the airport management was doing its own probe on the brawl, Honrado said NAIA authorities have yet to install CCTV cameras on the baggage conveyor area, adding that only the arrival area has CTV cameras.

Castelo expressed surprise over Honrado’s statement adding that his statement did not in any way conform to the claim that “ours is a world class airport.”

“We ask tourists to come over and have fun in the Philippines. We say that our airport is world class and comparable to the best in the world. But where are the CCTV cameras?” Castelo said.

Castelo said he intends to write President Benigno Aquino III to require the NAIA airport to install CCTV cameras in all important and sensitive areas of NAIA.

Castelo said he intends either to fill a separate bill or seek the inclusion in RA 5190 the compulsory installation of CCTV cameras in crime-prone public areas, which include airports, seaports, and other public and private transport terminals, among them.