Could it be that top officials of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) are deliberately playing deaf and blind to the situation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport- Terminal 3 (NAIA-T3)?
MIAA general manager Angel Honrado has obviously turned deaf ears and blind eyes that is “see no evil, hear no evil” to what observers say are machinations of the Philippine Air Transport Corp. (PIATCO) to participate on NAIA-T3 operations.
If Honrado is not playing deaf and blind, he could probably be soundly sleeping on his job because how could he not know that the service provider of four airline operators getting into the NAIA-T3 is closely linked with the PIATCO owned by the Chengs.
Second, how could Honrado issue access authority to tug operators/drivers of the service provider which allow them to start working at the terminal, without conducting even a semblance of inquiry into its background.
Doesn’t the MIAA have an intelligence gathering arm to look into the background of applicants seeking to operate at the terminal? MIAA insiders said Honrado need not employ intelligence officers to know what was already obvious to officials who have been at the MIAA for quite a while.
If these two developments have escaped the MIAA officials because they are either sleeping on their jobs or have played deaf and blind, Honrado should turn his attention into the entry of PIATCO’s other company, Pair Pags.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Pair Pags is reportedly bidding for a slot to operate at the NAIA-T3, as a strategy. “ A possible bait and switch strategy if PIATCO wins, ” the MIAA source said.
Such serious concerns should not have escaped Honrado’s scrutiny considering that PIATCO had sued the Philippine government for the right to operate the terminal and for just compensation.
Since PIATCO’s contract to build and operate NAIA-T3 was voided by the Supreme Court for being grossly disadvantageous to the government, it should not be given any chance to get involved in the terminal operations.
But as PIATCO succeeded in baiting then officials of the Department of Transportation and MIAA into questionable deals, the Cheng-owned company may yet be able to get one over the government using the same scheme to get the contract through their connections in the previous administration.
Could the same be the reason Honrado and other concerned officials are playing deaf and blind to the obvious plan of the Chengs to dip their finger into the operations at the terminal?
The MIAA source tipped-off this column that PIATCO cargo agents have already been given access to the NAIA –T3, knowingly or unknowingly, that the agents are employed by the service provider directly linked or connected with the PIATCO.
PIATCO built the terminal at a whopping $650 million which the Supreme Court declared the building to be illegally built on government lot, making it an illegal structure.
The government, instead of demolishing it as a squatter, paid PIATCO P3 billion as just compensation then took over and operated the facility.
Not long after losing its hold and right over the facility, PIATCO tried to subtly enter the operations by fielding in service provider for four airlines, namely: Cathay Pacific. The three others are Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Delta Airlines.
If Mr. Honrado is indeed not aware of the PIATCO plans to be part of the NAIA –T3 operations, then with this information, he would not have any credible excuse not to act in order to stop this shenanigan.
If he does not act accordingly, which is to stop PIATCO from getting further access into the terminal, he may well be accused of sleeping on the job and it’s time for the axe to fall.
If he is awake on the other hand and turning a blind eye to the issue, many will be forced to believe that he has fallen into the trap where many government officials have found themselves caught.
Mr. Honrado must act now and act honorably.
For comments, email at
philstarhiddenagenda@yahoo.com
