Ombudsman suspends Cebu airport manager

MANILA, Philippines — The Ombudsman has ordered the six-month preventive suspension without pay of Steve Dicdican, general manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, who is facing charges over a concession deal to develop and operate the airport.

Dicdican and 14 others were charged earlier this month with violation of the Anti-Dummy Law for allegedly conspiring to allow foreign executives to take over the management of a Philippine public utility. The airport executive is also facing graft complaints before the Ombudsman for allegedly giving unwarranted benefits to the foreign executives, effectively causing undue injury to the government.

Dicdican, who was also barred from entering his office during the suspension, had earlier denied wrongdoing and noted that the Supreme Court had already approved the management deal. —NIKKA G. VALENZUELA