Ombud suspends airport worker for 3 months

A MACTAN airport worker was suspended for three months for verbally abusing and physically assaulting a media practitioner last year.

Euphemia Bacalso, graft investigation and prosecution officer, found Francis Alindogan, customs agent of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, guilty of simple misconduct.

Alindogan allegedly uttered demeaning words to Rico Osmeña and harassed the media practitioner by dragging him out of the International Arrival Area of the MCIAA on Aug. 13, 2011.

“Respondent fell short of the proper decorum, norm and courtesy mandated upon and expected of a public official to observe,” said Bacalso in her decision.

Osmeña said he was covering the “controversies” about Korean flights and the legality of the selling of fruits outside the airport.

Shortly, he said Alindogan dragged him towards the exit door of the arrival area.

Airport authorities pacified them.

But Alindogan, in his counter-affidavit, denied the allegations, saying he merely told Osmeña to leave the fruit vendors alone. The airport worker believed Osmena misunderstood what he said.

Alindogan said he “slightly pushed” Osmena to prevent him from getting closer.

Graft investigator Bacalso said Alindogan’s argument was “bare denial.”

“Respondent (Alindogan) displayed such misbehavior unbecoming of what his office calls for,” said Bacalso.