The Manila Times

Miascor deal to be terminated after luggage theft

- CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND REICELENE JOY N. IGNACIO

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the terminatio­n of the contract of Miascor Aviation Services following the luggage theft incident at the Clark Internatio­nal Airport in Pampanga.

Duterte issued the directive during his meting with Clark Internatio­nal Airport Corp. Acting President Alexander Cauguiran, airport and transport officials, and victim Jovinal dela Cruz in Malacañang on Thursday.

In his remarks during the meeting, Duterte said he wanted to provide swift justice by terminatin­g the contract of Miascor, which is under contract with airlines to handle the baggages of passengers.

“I would demand that there will be justice instantly. Kungsino ‘yung provider, service provider

diyan ( Whoever the provider, the service provider there), you terminate the contract and look for another one,” Duterte said.

“And so for the other airports in the country, I do not want it repeated ever again. Bahalana

‘yungsabihi­nnanag- import kayo ng tractor diyano… I could even just look the other way around,” he added.

Manila Internatio­nal Airport Authority ( MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said the contract with service Miascor would no longer be renewed, following its expiration.

“Please vacate and return all premises occupied by Miascor inside the airport complex and its terminals within 60 days from date,” Monreal wrote in a letter addressed to Miascor President Fidel Herman Reyes.

The agreement between Miascor and MIAA ran from July 8, 2014 to March 31, 2017.

‘Solemn promise’

Duterte stressed that the looting incident was an insult to his “passionate and solemn” promise to stop irregulari­ties hounding the country’s airports.

“It’s very unsettling for me after making that passionate and solemn promise that everything in the airport…we’re trying to protect [every one], especially those little guys,” he said.

The President then threatened to happens again.

“I’m just trying to be true to my promise. The next time it happens, you,” Duterte said.

“To Miascor, I don’t know who’s that, whoever it is. Tell them, create a ruckus there,” he added.

Duterte’s directive came after de la Cruz, in a post on his Facebook account, expressed dismay after discoverin­g that his luggage and

balikbayan box were stolen inside the Miascor premises at the Clark airport’s terminal.

De la Cruz’s has earned sympathy from netizens, who called the attention of the Clark Internatio­nal Airport Corp.

Six Miascor employees were ordered suspended and are facing criminal charges of theft after they were implicated in the incident.

The President also ordered apology to the complainan­t. He apologized to the victim.

“I would also demand that the airport authoritie­s should call the complainan­t and make amends, maybe in public, to apologize for the sloppy job that we are doing,” he said.

“So I deeply apologize. We will pay whatever your losses,” the President added.

During the meeting, Cauguiran told Duterte that charges had been luggage theft incident.

Cauguiran earlier said Miascor has compensate­d de la Cruz for the lost items in his luggage amounting to P84,000.

 ?? MALACAÑANG PHOTO ?? NOT ON MY WATCH President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with Jovinal de la Cruz and Rosemarie Versoza at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on January 18. The couple’s luggage was pilfered at Clark Internatio­nal Airport recently. The...
MALACAÑANG PHOTO NOT ON MY WATCH President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with Jovinal de la Cruz and Rosemarie Versoza at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on January 18. The couple’s luggage was pilfered at Clark Internatio­nal Airport recently. The...

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