Special treatment of Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto at NAIA under probe

Authorities are probing a retired policeman who was caught on video escorting a group that included gambling operator Charlie "Atong" Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto through the immigration counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

In a report by Jun Veneracion on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, CCTV footage was shown of Ang walking past the immigration counters. Barretto was not on the video, but was part of Ang's party that arrived from Thailand, according to a Bureau of Immigration memorandum obtained by reporters.

A certain retired SPO4 Ciriaco Peralta, who was described as a media practitioner and an employee of a luxury department store chain, reportedly escorted the group using an MIAA pass.

MIAA is already probing the incident.

Prepared by BI port operations division (BI-POD) acting chief Marc Red Mariñas on July 4, the BI memorandum said Peralta "approached the personnel of the BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BCIU) on duty informing them" that he will be assisting Ang, Barretto and company.

The BI said Peralta wore the pass from the airport’s pass control office when he met and accompanied Ang, Barretto and their companions and escorted them up to the immigration counter.

"Per investigation conducted by the terminal concerned, no immigration officer nor any POD or BI employee escorted or assisted said subject on his arrival," stated the memorandum addressed to Morente. 

The MIAA, for its part, said the BI should also conduct a probe.

"Kung bakit siya nakapag-assist with the area of Immigration, that is something that Immigration should also look into because their area is highly-sanitized," said MIAA spokesman Connie Bungag.

The BI has already warned its personnel against giving VIP treatment to passengers.

For his part, Ang said he did not know the person who escorted him out through the airport.

"When I was about to take the long immigration queue, somebody courteously approached me to follow him which I did without hesitating. I do not know the person who approached and guided me... I have not requested for any courtesy assistance," he said in a text message to GMA News.

"I don't know of anybody in the Bureau of Immigration, except of two (2) deputy immigration commissioners who were involved in the alleged Fontana bribery incident."

GMA News has reached out to Barretto. —with Virgil Lopez/JST, GMA News