DISRUPTION | The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is hit by a power outage on Monday, May 1, 2023, leading to a disruption of the airport’s operation four months after a glitch shut down the country’s airspace. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a preventive suspension against Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Acting General Manager Cesar Chiong and MIAA Acting Assistant General Manager Irene Montalbo.
Both Chiong and Montalbo were charged by anonymous MIAA officials with grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct for the ‘indiscriminate reassignment’ of 285 employees.
In a statement, Chiong said he received the order dated April 28 for his preventive suspension after previously reassigning MIAA employees in his “effort to improve airport operations.”
The MIAA chief, however, expressed confidence that he would be vindicated and cleared of the anonymous complaint alleging grave abuse of authority.
Chiong pointed out that the finances of MIAA had improved even without government subsidy since he took over, adding that “putting MIAA in good financial stead is one of my visions.”
The suspension came on the heels of another crisis at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after an eight-hour power outage hit one of its terminals on Labor Day, affecting thousands of passengers and several domestic and international flights.
On New Year’s Day, the country’s entire airspace shut down after an electricity supply problem caused the air traffic navigation system to go offline.
“The country’s main airport faces extremely difficult challenges, and we have started to implement plans and programs that aim to enhance passenger experience at our country’s main gateway,” Chiong said.