MANILA — Migrante International, a global alliance of overseas Filipinos, on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against ACTS-OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz for alleged misconduct in a series of controversies.
The migrant workers’ group was accompanied by members of the Makabayan bloc in filing the complaint before the House committee on ethics and privileges.
The group said Bertiz does not have the moral authority to represent overseas Filipino workers in Congress following his recent conduct.
Bertiz was recently caught on a CCTV security video on Sept. 29 allegedly refusing to remove his shoes as part of a security protocol at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and snatching off the ID of the airport personnel, identified as Hamilton Abdul.
Bertiz was also involved in other controversies, such as his “no license” joke about Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go during a recent oath-taking ceremony, and a shouting match with United Filipinos-Migrante leader Eman Villanueva in Hong Kong last year. Both incidents were caught on video, which went viral.
“Walang moral na awtoridad si Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III maging kinatawan namin sa Kongreso. Wala na ring dahilan para siya ay manatili pa sa kanyang katungkulan sa Kongreso (Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III does not have any moral authority to represent us in Congress. He also has no reason to stay in his congressional post),” the group said.
In a press conference, overseas worker Shiela Mabunga accused Bertiz’s recruitment firm, Global Asia Alliance Consultants Inc. (GAACI), of human trafficking.
Mabunga recounted the contract violations of GAACI, wherein instead of being deployed in 2014 to her real employer, she was instead picked up at the airport by a different employer from whom she suffered abuse and maltreatment.
“Noong ako ay dumating na sa Saudi Arabia, nalaman ko na magkaiba ang employer sa dala kong kontrata at sa aking working visa. Ito ay patunay na isang human trafficker ang agency ni Congressman Bertiz (When I finally arrived in Saudi Arabia, I found out that I have a different employer indicated in my contract and working visa. This is proof that Congressman Bertiz is a human trafficker),” Magbunga said.
Bertiz himself filed House Resolution No. 2212, directing the House committee on ethics and privileges to inquire into the airport incident that transpired on Sept. 29 at the NAIA Terminal 2.
The said committee started its preliminary investigation of the case Wednesday afternoon. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
