Palace denies appointing SBMA exec

Malacañang on Friday denied appointing Mark Macapagal, an Olongapo businessman, as administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

In a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer, the office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said Macapagal “has not been appointed by [President Aquino] as SBMA administrator,” contrary to a claim the businessman reportedly made this week in Subic.

“Neither has our office prepared or released any appointment papers to that effect. He has never been considered for the post, which is currently held by SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia,” said the statement.

Garcia was appointed SBMA administrator in a concurrent capacity by President Benigno Aquino III on November 21 last year.

Ochoa also directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into reports about Macapagal’s supposed appointment and to file charges against those responsible for their circulation.

Ochoa’s office contacted the Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau on Friday to ask for details about Macapagal’s supposed appointment letter, written on a Malacañang letterhead bearing Mr. Aquino’s signature. However, the letter had no bar code.

In a statement on Friday, Macapagal said: “In the final analysis, it is President Aquino who will decide the best man for the top SBMA post. If, God willing, he chooses me, I would like to think that he does so because I share his desire to introduce good government by reforming the bureaucracy, and that includes the graft-ridden SBMA.”

“On the other hand, if P-Noy finds Roberto Garcia suitable for the job, I will wholeheartedly support him,” he said.

At the Subic Bay Freeport, Garcia thanked Ochoa for “clarifying the situation.” “This will put the issue to rest,” he said.

Confusion

Garcia earlier said that Macapagal’s announcement of his supposed appointment “caused quite a confusion, among locators and employees.”

“They called me to ask what really happened. I didn’t bother calling Malacañang—if they read the report, they can come out with their own disclaimer. I have not communicated with them either,” Garcia said.

Macapagal, however, has apparently not dropped his claim over the SBMA.

Armin Santos, former head of the SBMA tourism department, said he was tasked to lead Macapagal’s transition team. He insisted that the appointment papers they had were authentic.

He said Macapagal has “a photocopy and an advanced copy” of his appointment papers. When the Inquirer asked for a copy on Friday, Santos promised to send a photocopy “once we get the one with the barcode this afternoon.”

Macapagal said that “up to this day, Mr. Garcia’s appointment is that of director, never as chairman, much less administrator.”

In April 2010, Mr. Aquino appointed Garcia and Rafael Reyes as chair and administrator of SBMA, respectively. However, Reyes’ appointment resulted in confusion for freeport locators as conflicting statements were made by top SBMA officials on the issue.

In May last year, Garcia told the Inquirer that Reyes, who would have replaced Armand Arreza, had quit before he could assume office.

Garcia’s appointment as chair and administrator marked the return to the original leadership setup at SBMA. The Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7227), which created the BCDA and the SBMA, referred to the SBMA chair and administrator as a single entity. With a report from Inquirer Northern Luzon