MANILA – Migrante International, an organization of Filipino migrant workers, filed a complaint against Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III (ACTS OFW party-list) before the House of Representatives’ ethics committee.
Bertiz recently drew flak for scolding and confiscating the identification card of a Ninoy Aquino International Airport security officer.
“A series of his unacceptable actuations in public, as well as his manifest conflict of interest with OFWs, have made him unqualified to represent the sector,” Migrante International chairman Arman Hernando said in the complaint lodged on Thursday.
“His conduct and ideals are unbecoming of an OFW representative. Thus, we seek for his outright removal from office,” Hernando added.
Meanwhile OFWs – in a petition attached to the complaint – said Bertiz owns recruitment agencies, which shows there is conflict of interest in his being a migrant workers’ representative.
“Si Bertiz ay nagmamay-ari ng dalawang recruitment agencies kabilang ang pagiging president at CEO ng Global Asia Alliance Consultant, Inc., isa sa mga pinakamalaking recruitment agencies sa Pilipinas,” they said.
“Siya ay recruiter at hindi OFW kaya’t salungat ang kanyang interes sa aming interes at hindi siya namin maaaring kilalaning lehitimong kinatawan sa Kongreso,” they added.
Some Migrante members were at the receiving end of Bertiz’s arrogance when the congressman went to the group’s supposed dialogue with labor officials in Hong Kong in January 2017.
A video of the incident showed Bertiz shouting at the leader of Migrante, Eman Villanueva, who politely asked him to cut short his speech so they could proceed with the scheduled dialogue.
Bertiz has claimed he had apologized to the leader and members of Migrante in Hong Kong but Villanueva insisted they have not heard anything from the lawmaker.
More recently Bertiz scolded a NAIA security officer who asked him to take off his shoes for inspection. He apologized for the incident after drawing flak when a video of the incident spread on social media and the news.
Prior to this, the legislator had also gone under fire for saying those who do not know Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go will not be given their Professional Regulation Commission license./PN
