PIA head’s reappointment opposed
The employee association of the Philippine Information Agency on Friday reiterated its stand against the reappointment of PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III due to alleged corruption.
“We stand by our petition against the reinstatement of Ramon Cualoping III and for him to step down as PIA’s Director General under the Marcos administration,” their statement read.
Early this month, some regional heads and ranking members of PIA asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. not to reappoint Cualoping.
The PIA officials accused him of taking advantage of his position and utilizing government resources for “extravagant” and “irregular” expenses.
“We intended this petition to be treated internally and with due process, hence we addressed the matter to the appropriate departments,” former PIA Deputy Director General Benjamin Felipe said in a statement.
The PIA petitioners have authorized Felipe to speak on their behalf.
“We will not stake our names, career positions and reputations by making false allegations against a government official who has always brandished his strong ties with the powers that be,” the petitioners said.
The group stressed that they have “served under previous Directors-General” and “have been flexible to their individual and distinct leadership styles in carrying out the Agency’s mandates.”
“But we draw the line when we see abuse of power and authority and unlawful practices that breed corruption,” the group’s statement said.
“We will not close our eyes to misuse of government resources and brazen display of power. These are our non-negotiables.”
In their petition, the officials alleged that Cualoping’s schedules in the regional offices “were masked with supposedly official agendas like meeting of staff among others just to appear official business.”
“But in reality, they were all concealment of his personal tours and trips festooned with splurges, extravagant and wasteful expenditures for personal gains and agenda,” they added.
Cualoping has earlier dismissed as “fake news” the petition seeking his ouster.
“Fake news. They did not sign that. Those are e-signatures. Don’t fall onto fake news. It destroys reputations,” Cualoping wrote in a social media post.
He branded the petition as a “demolition job at its worst.”