Dismissed Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Cesar Chiong is reportedly bent on holding on to power despite the Office of the Ombudsman’s order for him to leave his post.
Former presidential spokesperson and abogado Harry Roque claimed that Chiong has “refused to accept” the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman over his supposedly illegal reshuffling of hundreds of airport personnel without basis.
Chiong has filed a case before the Court of Appeals questioning the anti-graft court’s ruling.
“I even heard that a top transport official is lobbying for his reinstatement. This is outrageous and unacceptable,” Roque said in his Philippine Star column. “These officials are not God’s gift to the executive department. Their mindset and skills are not fit for public service. Where is their sense of propriety and accountability? Their sense of shame?”
Chiong was handpicked by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to lead MIAA. Both of them were long-time executives of bilyonaryo Lucio Tan’s Philippine Airlines.
For Roque, the impasse at MIAA would only be resolved if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gets involved.
“Thus, I again appeal to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. to rid government of these inefficient and unprofessional alter egos,” Roque added. “He has given them enough chance to prove their worth, so he does not owe them anything. These officials should atone for their incompetence before the President and the Filipino people.”