House reprimands Rep. Aniceto Bertiz lll over airport outburst

MANILA, Philippines — Voting 159-1 with three abstentions, the House of Representatives reprimanded yesterday ACTS-OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz lll who drew flak after he was caught on video bullying an airport screener.

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez presented the motion to impose the penalty on Bertiz.

In a privilege speech, Bertiz, who also belongs to the minority bloc, reiterated his apology to his colleagues, Office of Transportation Security employee Hamilton Abdul and the public in general.

Abdul earlier said he would no longer file charges against Bertiz.

Bertiz, an assistant minority leader, said he and his family have suffered so much due to the incident.

“I am leaving my fate to God and to my colleagues and leaders in the House. I have apologized for what I did. There is absolutely no justification for the way I conducted myself,” he said.

Bertiz was hospitalized due to stress and hypertension caused by the controversy.

The House committee on ethics voted to sanction Bertiz, but did not decide immediately on what penalty to impose.

Without waiting for the panel to submit its report, Suarez proposed a penalty of reprimand since it was the first time Bertiz committed an ethical infraction.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, senior deputy minority leader, said Bertiz should face his penalty.

 “Based on the video that we have seen, although there is no audio, he committed improper conduct,” Atienza said.

Bertiz keeps his post as assistant minority leader, Suarez said.

“There is no reason to strip him of his post,” he said.

Bertiz was caught on video harassing Abdul after he refused to remove his shoes during security check at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sept. 29.

Bertiz earned the ire of women’s groups after he blamed his outburst to “menstrual cycles.”

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