Poser on new Subic head: Did he or didn’t he?

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A rift at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is developing due to the silence of one of its officials about his reported quitting before he could assume office.

Incoming SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia told the Inquirer last week that incoming SBMA Administrator Rafael Reyes had resigned although he declined to talk about it at length.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Garcia and Reyes on April 7 to replace Feliciano Salonga and Armand Arreza, respectively.

But Arreza on Monday announced to SBMA employees that Reyes did not resign from his post.

In a text message to the Inquirer on Tuesday, Arreza said: “Mr. Reyes has not yet formally accepted the post. We will await confirmation from Malacañang.”

But Garcia, a former president of battery manufacturer Ramcar Inc., said he was standing by his previous statement on Reyes’ resignation.

“I stand by my statement. I have no further comment on the matter,” he said.

Reyes did not respond to the Inquirer’s calls and text messages on Monday and Tuesday asking for verification about his resignation. Last week, he declined to comment on Garcia’s statement, saying he did not wish to talk about government matters “while I’m still a private citizen.”

But an SBMA source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters, said Reyes could not deny his resignation because “it is true.”

“He wrote a resignation letter. He sent it. And he said that himself. Now that the truth is out, how can he get back his words or deny his actions?” the source said.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chair Felicito Payumo, a former SBMA chair, said the story on the resignation of Reyes is getting muddled.

“But I have no doubt that Chairman Garcia told the truth. What would be his motive to lie about Reyes’ resignation?” Payumo said. “The fact that Reyes has not denied [his resignation] only reinforces what Garcia said.”

Asked how the rift at the SBMA’s leadership might impact on the agency’s operations, Payumo said: “Even if Reyes changes his mind now and says he is not resigning, he will only succeed in making Garcia a liar. Can the two still work together?”