CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Leaders of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (Pamcham) lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for clarifying that he was not specifically referring to Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president when he accused an unnamed Clark official of bribery.
“We’re glad the President has cleared the air on the issue of Manankil’s (CDC president Noel Manankil) alleged bribery involvement because it vindicated our own sentiment and position on the integrity of Manankil,” said Levy Laus, Pamcham chairman.
Laus had worked with Manankil during his two-year term at CDC from 2006 to 2008 and said he found the latter a dedicated, hardworking, and honest public servant.
“He has invested the last 20 years or so of his professional life to the cause of making CDC a model government institution for public service and Clark Freeport a modern global economic hub for investors and businessmen with meritorious performance and exemplary character,” Laus said.
Laus said that he was among those who supported the decision of Secretary Arthur Tugade in recommending Manankil as he successor at CDC when he accepted Duterte’s offer to head the Department of Transportation.
“In fact, Manankil was very reluctant to accept the post but I encouraged him,” he said.
Laus said that when news earlier broke out about Manankil’s alleged bribery, he wasn’t worried about Manankil because he was confident of his integrity and probity.
“I knew he is not capable of doing that,” he said.
“I was more concerned about the effect of the issue on CDC as an institution and its adverse effects on the growth of Clark Freeport,” he added.
Laus spearheaded the conversion of the then Clark Special Economic Zone into a Freeport Zone through legislation during his term at CDC.
Laus said Pamcham fully supports Duterte’s no-nonsense campaign against corruption in government because it is critical to the country’s continued economic growth and in solving other problems of the country.
Manankil had taken a leave of absence since last Friday to allow for an impartial investigation that he said will prove his innocence.
Laus said they are going along with the probe to ferret out the truth.
Pamcham President Jess Nicdao also vouched for Manankil’s unblemished reputation.
“Manankil since 2001 when I was director for CDC and the Clark International Airport Corp. and I never heard any accusation of wrongdoing against him,” he said.
He said it is a relief for many Kapampangans and stakeholders in Clark that Duterte has clarified earlier new reports.