Just in case you missed reading about this, let me narrate to you the story.
Luli, the only daughter of the Philippine president, was in the airport early this week and was being the usual low-key woman (bless her soul) that she always is: meaning she queued up with her sis-in-law with no hoopla, no PSG escorts (nothing visible, at least), nada. She was just being an ordinary Filipino like you and me going through the NAIA and immigration procedures.
So there she was in the immigration queue, minding her business, when she saw a foreigner jump said queue and get service immediately from the immigration officer attending to her line. (Luli would later say that she even saw the foreigner entering the officer's booth!)
The first daughter immediately complained to the immig officer, asking him why he allowed the foreigner to go ahead of everyone.
The officer, who probably never watched The Amazing Race episode where the Luli once said Mabuhay, Welcome to the Philippines! to the racers beside host Phil, and thus was clueless about the identity of the woman he was about to brow-beat, snapped loudly in reply: 'Di ka ba marunong maghintay?' ('Don't you know how to wait?')
(The man doesn't know it yet but he just started to dig his own grave right then. But such arrogance!)
Luli answered back: 'Bakit kaming mga Pilipino ang pinapagalitan mo? Bakit hindi yung foreigner?' ('Why are you scolding us Filipinos? Why not the foreigner)?'
By this time, the reports said, the immig guy's colleagues were trying to get his attention to subtly tell him that he was exchanging words with the Prez' daughter. To no avail.
The officer continued his tirade, still clueless. According to Inq7, he even told her that she shouldn't be in his lane because it was meant for VIPS and diplomats. Hah!
Finally, the guy's supe arrived and explained to Luli that the foreigner was allowed through before everyone because he was already late for his flight. Finally!, Luli must have said. An explanation!
After clearing immig (attended to by the same guy who would have only then seen who he had just berated upon opening her passport), Luli went to file a formal complaint about the incident.
Postscript, the guy has been temporarily relieved of his duties and put on 'floating' status while the incident is being investigated.
Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr has given the grave digger 72 hours to explain why he should not be administratively charged with discourtesy and violating a standing policy prohibiting immigration officers from giving preferential treatment to passengers.
Ha! Vicarious vengeance for all who have been wronged by the immigration people!!!
Way to go, Luli! Thank you for standing up for Filipino travelers who have to suffer the high-handedness and rudeness of many of these immigration officers. I've witnessed many instances of power-tripping by some of these front-liners, once even witnessing a Chinese man in front of me hand over a wad of peso bills to an officer. I stared at that officer long and hard, wanting him to know that I saw the transaction, and you know how he reacted? He just stared back at me while accepting the wad, his look daring me, seemingly asking, Ano ngayon? (What now?)
Many of them treat lowly-looking OFWs (overseas foreign workers) shabbily too, thinking nothing of slamming back the passports on the counter once they've finished with it, all the while keeping their uniform bored looks.
I wonder how the Immigration Bureau came about to choosing just about their unfriendliest-looking people to man many of their front line counters?!
Anyway, back to the grave digger. What now? I say investigate the matter and when just cause is established (notice pls how I say 'when' just cause is established and not 'if'), let the schmuck sit at home for many moons. So he can ponder about the consequences of being rude and ignorant.
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