Thursday, September 04, 2008 Ex-Marina chief given new job
DAYS after resigning as Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator because he wanted to go back to the private sector, Vicente Suazo Jr. took his oath of office yesterday as commissioner of the Cebu Port Commission, another government agency.
Suazo will replace Commissioner Carlos Co, a businessman who owns the Cebu Oversea Hardware and once served as president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Co, who strongly supported the construction of a bulk cargo handling equipment that will be operated and managed by Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor), could not be reached for comment. He is reportedly outside the country.
In an interview, Suazo refused to comment on talks that pressure from Malacañang prompted his resignation from Marina.
But shortly after his resignation, Suazo admitted in an ABS-CBN TV Patrol report that somebody called him to ask that he reverse the recommendation of the Marina board to temporarily lift the suspension of Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) vessels for three months.
Marina issued the suspension in late June this year, after Sulpicio’s Princess of the Orient sank in stormy weather off Romblon, killing over 700 passengers and crew.
The Cebu Port Commission is the policy-making body of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), which has jurisdiction over all ports in Cebu.
The oathtaking of Suazo as CPA commissioner was officiated by Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). It was held shortly after Suazo turned over the Marina administrator’s post to DOTC Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista.
Suazo said he took his oath of office as CPA commissioner based on the appointment dated Sept. 1, 2008 signed by President Arroyo.
Until yesterday, the six commissioners of the Cebu Port Commission were Co and Ramon Villordon representing the shipping sector; Alfonso Alerre, Angelo Verdan and Orlando Soriano representing the business sector; and lawyer Tomas A. Riveral representing the cargo handling sector.
Suazo only served two years of his seven-year term as Marina administrator. His Marina post covered the entire country and some shipowners expressed surprise why he resigned and transferred to the CPA, which only covers Cebu.
Two weeks ago, Suazo was asked by Sun.Star Cebu to comment on a report that the Marina board passed a resolution calling for his replacement.
Suazo sent a text message to Sun.Star Cebu denying the report. He said then that he has a seven-year term and he wanted to finish it.
Weeks later, however, Suazo, a Mandaue City resident, suddenly announced his resignation.
When asked why he accepted his new post as CPA commissioner when he said he wanted to go back to the private sector, Suazo said that a commissioner’s job is not full-time. While serving as commissioner, he will work on his consultancy company.
Suazo said he will attend the next board meeting, which Verdan said will be on Sept. 10. (EOB)
