NAIA, ENHYPEN, and "Unprofessional Behavior": A Short History
We lay down what happened.
(SPOT.ph) K-pop boy group ENHYPEN’s three-day concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena from February 3 to 5 was, in every sense of the word, a success. However, fan euphoria quickly dwinled following the team's preparation to head back home to South Korea mere hours after their third concert—and it involved everyone’s favorite airport.
Just a little over a month after its New Year fiasco, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is under fire once again for its staff’s (mis)treatment of ENHYPEN.
In a now-deleted TikTok video posted by @heyitsdemianne, a Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) screening officer was seen giggling while frisking several members of the ENHYPEN group. You can spot more staff recording the incident in the background.
At one point in the video, a staff member behind the plastic barrier motioned the screening officer to ask Jake to remove his mask, to which he complied, in order for her to take a clear shot of the passing ENHYPEN singer.
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Soon enough, #MIAADoBetter was trending with over 20,000 posts on Twitter, calling for the Manila International Airport Authority—the body that runs NAIA—to get involved.
Later on February 6, the Office for Transportation Security issued a statement acknowledging the “alleged unprofessional behavior and the unwarranted filming” caught in the viral post. They have since launched a formal investigation with coordination of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
“The management is currently investigating the matter to determine the extent of violation committed based on existing rules and security screening protocols if any, and impose appropriate administrative sanctions, should it be necessary,” the statement read. “While we understand the excitement brought about by the presence of these Korean artists, we remind not only our personnel, but all airport users, that unauthorized filming at our security screening checkpoints is not allowed as a matter of policy.”
No-contact policy
Twitter users recalled the MIAA’s implementation of a no-contact security check policy in July 2020 as part of its efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmissions in air travel. According to MIAA, body frisking is only warranted “under exceptional cases”—and it should only be conducted with a staff of the same gender as the passenger being checked.
There are few instances where female-to-male pat downs are permitted due to the lack of staff in the province, but Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Ma. O.R. Aplasca confirmed in an interview with GMA that there were more than enough personnel at NAIA at that time.
He also added that travelers are actually encouraged to pass through the checkpoints wearing a mask, not lowering or removing them like what was asked of some ENHYPEN members. The only time removing a mask is required would be during immigration to check the identity of a passenger.
"Normally, meron kaming supervisors diyan, so dapat kung may mali na nakikita, the supervisors should correct it immediately," Aplasca was quoted as saying.
In any case, Filipino ENGENEs noted that the screening officer’s expression was not one of stoic professionalism, to say the least, while conducting the frisking. Among the ENHYPEN members frisked in the clips was the team's youngest Ni-ki, who is still a minor. Online, fans called out MIAA for not instilling proper work practices and ethics among staff.
Breach of security
It wasn't just the body frisking incident that had Filipino ENGENEs riled up.
In a separate NAIA incident, another staffer recorded and uploaded a video of ENHYPEN members as they showed E-Travel passes, which contains a QR code revealing the traveler’s full name, passport number, and reference number. This video in particular isn’t as widespread as the one above, so it is unclear if this incident is part of the MIAA and OTS investigation.
However, Aplasca confirmed in the same GMA interview that taking videos is also prohibited in the checkpoint area, especially for airport personnel, who could be fired for this breach of security.
“If we tolerate that, it’s possible for other people, even if they’re not VIPs, to film our screening checkpoint activities,” he was quoted as saying. “That is posing a danger to the traveling public.”
At the end of the day, this kind of unprofessional staff behavior goes beyond mistreatment of the ENHYPEN members—it also has implications on every traveler and tourist that have no choice but to put themselves at a similar risk in NAIA’s hands.
Some might argue that ENHYPEN members didn’t seem too bothered with the incidents, but taking offense shouldn’t be a requirement to receive basic respect and privacy.
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