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Tuesday, August 01, 2006
MCIAA fires Yap
By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
With Elias O. Baquero
Airport General Manager Adelberto Yap was fired after the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) board found him “arrogant and defiant” of the board’s authority to suspend him.
In a special meeting yesterday afternoon, the MCIAA board on mass motion declared the position of general manager vacant to end the “state of confusion that Yap wants a vital facility such as an airport to plunge into.”
“His services have been terminated by the board precisely because he has shown an act of arrogance and defiance against the very authority that put him there,” said Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, a member of the MCIAA board, after the meeting.
What triggered the special meeting was a letter from the Accra law office representing Yap addressed to MCIAA officer-in-charge Romeo Bersonda.
In that July 28 letter, Yap’s legal counsel said Bersonda’s performance of duties and responsibilities as OIC is “unlawful and constitutes usurpation of authority” that “unnecessarily exposes” Bersonda to administrative, civil and criminal liabilities.
Accra also earlier sent a letter to the MCIAA board, saying the board does not have the authority to impose disciplinary action on him.
The board had suspended Yap indefinitely amid allegations of several questionable transactions at the airport.
“We can’t allow the situation to continue with two people claiming to be GM…. This board acted swiftly and with political will. Let this be a strong signal to the rest that there are no sacred cows here. They better do good otherwise we will chop their heads off,” Garcia said.
Civil Service Commission 7 Director Cabanag attended the meeting.
Yap, who did not answer calls on his phone, instead sent a text message that with the MCIAA board’s decision, the issue has turned into a legal battle.
“In contempt sila, they know that,” his text message read.
Yap said he heard that the board wants him to submit an irrevocable resignation but for him it’s too late, adding that vested political and personal interests are behind the controversy.
With Yap’s dismissal, the case pending before the Court of Appeals on Yap’s appointment becomes moot.
Cabanag discussed “lengthily” with the board the issue on appointment of general manager over which the CSC has long been at odds with the MCIAA.
According to the governor, the CSC now recognizes the board’s authority and function to define the qualifications of a general manager.
“We have the power to fire with or without cause, and this is a great cause,” said Garcia.
Had the MCIAA board dealt with the allegation in a “hush-hush” manner or had it given Yap a graceful exit, Garcia said the public might think that the board members were in cahoots with Yap or that Yap “has some goods” on them.
Also yesterday, the legal counsel of MCIAA tendered his irrevocable resignation.
Lawyer Sigfredo Dublin, said Garcia, was a member of the bids and awards committee whose transactions are now being investigated.
“In the light of recent developments and to enable the undersigned to move on,” was how Dublin told the board of his resignation.
Yap’s dismissal is “without prejudice” to the criminal charges that the board will file against him with regards to the questionable transactions, the governor said.
The board had created an investigation committee, which gave Yap time to answer.
“It seems he is no mood to answer,” said Garcia.
The transactions include the alleged overpriced purchase of communication equipment, which was declared an emergency purchase, the awarding of the P110-million contract to ARN builders for the airport apron extension and the submission of a “tampered” charter to the CSC.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 1, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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