Continental refuses to board Palau president

So what if you are the president of the Republic of Palau? We still need to frisk you for security reasons.

That’s exactly what Continental Micronesia did, when Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. was about to leave Manila for Guam on Wednesday.

The incident happened on the same day that Remengesau lauded the “red carpet” reception accorded to him by the Philippine government, according to online reports.

Remengesau said it was unfortunate that the Philippine government’s efforts to extend protocols to him as president of a republic during his two-day visit were thwarted by Continental’s representative in Manila.

Continental told Philippine officials escorting the Palau president that he had to submit to the same security screening as all other passengers but the Philippine government officials disagreed, saying that doing so would be considered unprecedented and disrespectful treatment for a Head of State.

With no resolution in sight and with Remengesau declining to be frisked, the Palau president returned to his hotel, and boarded a “chartered flight” instead.

The story didn’t end there.

On Thursday, Remengesau said he wants to take the matter up with regional airlines serving Palau and the US Transportation Security Administration “so that we can ensure that respect and culturally-appropriate treatment is accorded Heads of State that will visit Palau.”

Again, the story didn’t end there.

The same Continental Micronesia flight that Remengesau had refused to take was sent steering back to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport barely an hour after it departed Manila due to a hoax bomb threat early Thursday morning, reports said.

“After more than three hours of inspection of the aircraft as well as the plane's 134 passengers and their baggage, airport officials declared the plane to be free from any explosive device.”

Does Continental also frisk CNMI Governor Fitial or Guam Governor Camacho or any heads of state?