Subic puzzle: 2 claim Aquino appointed them administrator

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Will the real Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator please stand up?

The controversy surrounding the succession for the top post in SBMA continues to rage here as news reports identified Mike Macapagal, a businessman, as the new SBMA administrator supposedly appointed by President Benigno Aquino to replace SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia, who holds the position in a concurrent capacity.

In a statement, Macapagal said he was appointed by the President on Jan. 30 and the appointment will take effect on Feb. 27.

Armin Santos, former head of the SBMA tourism department, said he leads Macapagal’s transition team, noting that their claim to the post is authentic.

Santos showed the Inquirer a copy of what is purportedly Macapagal’s appointment paper signed by the President. While the photocopied document has no bar code, it was written on a Malacañang letterhead bearing Mr. Aquino’s signature.

‘Authentic’

“When Feb. 27 comes, we (Macapagal’s camp) will assume office,” Santos said.

But in a press conference on Wednesday, Garcia said he had already taken his oath as SBMA administrator before Mr. Aquino.

“The news reports … are causing confusion because there is a specific appointment date and assumption of office. But unless I’m the last one to know, as far as I am concerned, I am the administrator [of SBMA],” he said.

Attribution

Garcia also said the press statement praising Macapagal’s appointment and on which the news reports were based contained statements attributed to Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and  Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce Inc. (Mocci) officials Aurelio Pineda and Ramon del Rosario.

“Mayor Gordon called me this afternoon and said he never made those statements. Likewise, Pineda and Del Rosario, the current and former head of Mocci, respectively, also denied they issued those statements,” Garcia said.

Garcia gave photocopies of his appointment as SBMA administrator to reporters. The appointment letters, which contained a bar code, the presidential seal and a signature of President Aquino, were sent by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chair Felicito Payumo and dated Nov. 21, 2011.

Confirmation

Payumo, in a phone interview, confirmed that Garcia’s appointment came from Malacañang.

Garcia said if Macapagal would insist on assuming the post on Feb. 27, he would ask Macapagal to present his appointment paper.

“There could have been a mix up or something. And if the President really decides that he’s going to be appointed, then so be it,” he added.

Asked, however, if he would serve as SBMA chair if Macapagal is appointed administrator, Garcia said: “I’d rather go fishing.”