Screener Blames Himself

Romeo Abelida admits he made mistakes. And now the 57-year-old rookie airport security screener says he’s waiting at home to hear if he’ll lose his job with Argenbright Security.

Abelida allowed an unidentified man whose shoes triggered an explosives-testing machine to slip away into the crowd last week at San Francisco International Airport.

The security breach forced the evacuation of United Airlines’ main terminal, delayed thousands of passengers and has prompted investigations into why an hour passed before the Federal Aviation Administration was told of the incident.

The Filipino immigrant, a college graduate, told the San Jose Mercury News that he didn’t turn his back on the traveler but that he was overly focused on results of the cotton swab he’d run over the man’s carry-on luggage and shoes.

Abelida said he should have told the man to stay put, or held onto the shoes. “That was my error. Our job is to have full control,” he said.

When he realized the man was gone, Abelida followed protocol and found his supervisor, rather than calling the National Guard or other authorities.

Critics said it’s unfair to blame Abelida alone, with three months on the job, including a week of training. Only two National Guard soldiers were allotted to keep watch over Abelida and up to 40 other screeners as hundreds of passengers streamed through five security lines, according to airport and National Guard officials.

“There’s not enough personnel on the checkpoint to stand at each one of those places or to watch it all the time,” said National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Tom Jacobs.

FAA spokesman Jerry Snyder said the airline is responsible for security at the checkpoint and could have evacuated immediately, rather than letting an hour go by while trying to find the man. United Airlines, which contracts with Argenbright, denies it is at fault for the breach.

Screening bags is Abelida’s first job since he moved with his wife in July from the Philippines, where he worked in the insurance industry. He said the new $13-an-hour airport job paid the bills.

Law enforcement and airport officials initially thought Abelida’s English skills played a part in the security breach.

Daz Lamparas, a representative of the union for security screeners at the airport, said the problem was not language but inexperience and a lack of supervision.

“You can’t leave an inexperienced person without a supervisor,” he said. “There should have been a backup person right there.”

Argenbright said it is investigating and will decide whether training procedures need changing.