President’s daughter upbraids immigration officer at airport
By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer
Last updated 09:08pm (Mla time) 11/01/2006
EVANGELINE Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo, known as the most low-key member of the First Family, shed off her usual inconspicuous demeanor on Tuesday to reprimand an immigration officer who allowed a foreigner to jump the line of passengers waiting to be checked in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Luli was on her way to Hong Kong to join her parents, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, where the First Family spent All Saints’ Day.
She was accompanied by her sister-in-law, Kakai Manotok-Arroyo, and the latter's young daughter.
A source told the Inquirer that the Arroyos were waiting in line at the Bureau of Immigration's special lane for diplomats and VIPs when Luli saw that the foreigner had cut up front into the line and the immigration officer processed his travel documents.
Luli was reportedly heard asking the officer, whose identity was withheld pending investigation, why he allowed the foreigner to get ahead of the line.
To everyone's surprise, instead of explaining, the immigration officer reportedly snapped at Luli.
"Hindi ka ba marunong maghintay?! (Can't you wait?!)" the officer was heard telling Luli.
Apparently, he failed to recognize the President's only daughter.
"Luli was obviously peeved. She was heard answering back, 'Bakit kaming mga Pilipino ang pinapagalitan mo. Bakit hindi yung foreigner (Why are you scolding us Filipinos and not the foreigner)?'" the source said, requesting anonymity.
The source said the officer's colleagues tried to get his attention and subtly tell him that he was talking to the President's daughter.
However, their efforts were futile.
The source added: "It actually looked like a scene from a gag show. He was completely clueless who Luli was. Supposedly, he even told Luli that she shouldn't be in that lane because it was reserved for diplomats and VIPs."
Eventually, the officer's supervisor stepped in and explained to Luli that the foreigner was already late for his flight and his papers had to be expedited.
Luli supposedly replied that it was all that she was waiting for: a proper explanation to passengers waiting in line.
And where was Luli's close-in security the entire time?
The source explained that Luli has always asked the Presidential Security Group guarding her to keep their distance and allow her to do things on her own at the NAIA, such as checking in, falling in line, and carrying her bags.
The immigration officer has been temporarily relieved of his post at the NAIA, said Ferdinand Sampol, head supervisor of the BI-NAIA.
Sampol added BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez had ordered an investigation into the incident.
"It was unacceptable. Immigration officers should not be rude or arrogant to any passenger, whether they are members of the First Family or regular people," Sampol told the Inquirer.
Sampol said that the BI "wants to know what happened because in fairness to our immigration officer, he's a seasoned personnel and this was the first time that such a thing happened to him."
Sampol said that among the things to be investigated is if the foreigner was indeed late for his flight, which was why the immigration officer processed the passenger's documents ahead of those waiting at the special lane that included Luli Arroyo.
Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.