MIAA Probes Alleged Taxi Bribery Scheme at NAIA

MIAA Probes Alleged Taxi Bribery Scheme at NAIA

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.com  
June 21, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has vowed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations that five Airport Police Department (APD) officers were accepting bribes from taxi drivers in exchange for unauthorized access to passenger pick-up zones at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

The move followed a directive from Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to eradicate corruption within the country’s transportation systems.

MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Ines has pledged full cooperation with the Department of Transportation’s mandate, promising a transparent and impartial inquiry.

“We are taking these allegations extremely seriously,” Ines stated. “We are committed to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible for their actions.”

As an immediate measure, the five APD personnel implicated in the alleged scheme – Airport Police Officer 3 Pablito Seño, AP02 Roberto Abuel, AP02 Bernardo Agra, AP02 Alejandro Pineda, and AP01 Rodolfo Piedad – have been relieved of their duties pending investigation.

Airport insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the probe is merely a superficial attempt to shield higher-ranking APD officials who are also benefiting from the illicit operation.

Airport officials, who asked not to be identified, urged Ines to hold APD leadership accountable for command responsibility.

The MIAA has emphasized its commitment to transparency, due process, and fairness throughout the investigation.

“While these allegations are serious, we maintain our confidence in the many honest and dedicated men and women within the APD who are committed to serving the public with integrity,” the MIAA said in a statement.

The investigation will also extend to reports of questionable traffic violations allegedly issued to taxi drivers at NAIA.

The MIAA is collaborating with the Land Transportation Office to determine if these citations were legitimate or used as a tool to coerce drivers into participating in the alleged bribery scheme.

To bolster accountability and integrity within its ranks, the MIAA will implement stricter internal policies aligned with Civil Service regulations.

Personnel found guilty of violating these policies will face appropriate administrative sanctions, including fines and dismissal.

A committee under the MIAA’s Intelligence and Investigation Division has been formed to gather evidence, conduct interviews, and submit formal recommendations.

It is tasked with ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable and that measures are implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.