Transport chief orders relief of aviation inspector

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered the relief of an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) over alleged involvement in extortion activities.

The official, identified as CAAP Airworthiness Inspector Rodolfo Moral, was terminated following reports that he demanded money from a religious group in exchange for airworthiness certification.

“Walang puwang sa departamento ko at sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga corrupt! Hindi alam ng mga gaya ninyo ang tunay na kahulugan ng serbisyo publiko (“There is no space in my department and in the administration of President Duterte for corrupt officials. You do not know the true meaning of public service),” Tugade said in a statement on Sunday.

Based on CAAP’s investigation, this was not the first time that Moral, a former Air Force Colonel, has been involved in extortion activities.

CAAP Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco reminded its employees that corruption will not tolerated in the agency.

“We want to send a strong message to everyone here in CAAP that we will not, in any way, tolerate corruption. That is unethical, and it should be stopped,” he said in a statement.

Tugade warned other officials that his department is determined to continue its crackdown on corruption.

He reiterated the agency’s one-strike policy, which means that employees found to be involved in any illegal activities will be sacked immediately. /ee