SEPARATE investigations have been launched into the Xiamen Air accident that caused the shutdown of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) international runway as Malacañang on Monday, August 20, assured that sanctions would be in order.
"It's not just an apology that we will ask for. We're now conducting an investigation if there is any liability on the part of Xiamen Airlines pilot. That's why he has been asked not to leave the country. That's part of an ongoing investigation," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.
"Pero tama po kayo, hindi po dapat makalusot nang wala man lang apology. Pero sa tingin ko, it's more than apology because we're now investigating if there's any kind of liability that we can attribute to the pilot," he added.
(But you are right. They could not be absolved without any apology. But I think, it's more than apology because we're now investigating if there's any kind of liability that we can attribute to the pilot.)
The pilot and the first officer of the stalled Xiamen Air aircraft have been barred from leaving the country pending the results of an investigation being conducted by airport and transport officials.
Roque said the results of the investigation will determine the appropriate charges against the Xiamen pilot.
"They're looking into it and they will conclude the report and take the necessary actions against the pilot of the Xiamen," he said.
"(They are looking into) all sorts of liability. I am not actually in authority of aviation laws so I wouldn't know but it can't be any different from the laws of court and it can't be any different from our criminal laws on reckless imprudence resulting to damages," he added.
In Congress, the House committee on transportation led by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento will investigate the incident on September 5.
Senator Grace Poe filed Resolution 852 calling for an urgent investigation into the incident.
Poe, who chairs the committee on public services, said it is important to conduct a full assessment of the flight cancellations, lost incomes and opportunities, and the response that authorities did during a mishap that affected thousands of passengers.
Quezon City Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo said airport officials should be held accountable for the inconvenience caused by the two-day closure of the main runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week.
“We cannot just be an international embarrassment in the face of the world. The one running the airport should be accountable administratively and civilly if not criminally,” he said in a press conference in the Batasang Pambansa complex on Monday, August 20.
Castelo believes that an official should resign out of delicadeza. Asked who will it be, he said it is still premature to determine in the absence of actual investigation.
A Xiamen Air aircraft skidded off the runway five minutes before Friday midnight. The plane was disabled after one engine was ripped off. It was removed only about 36 hours later on Saturday noon, August 18.
The incident caused the shutdown of the runway and the cancellation and delay of outgoing flights. Thousands of passengers were stranded not only at the NAIA but in other airports as well. Incoming international flights had to be diverted to Clark, Cebu and Davao as well as Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade apologized for the inconvenience caused by the incident and called for a review of the airport processes and procedures.
Roque said there was no need to santion Tugade because he had apologized.
"Humingi naman po ng patawad na si Secretary Tugade. Siguro naman po that counts for something that no less than Secretary of Transportation has publicly apologized for the inconvience caused to the public although it was not the airport officials himself that caused the inconvenience. It was the Xiamen air incident," he said.
(Secretary Tugade already apologized. Perhaps, that counts for something that no less than Secretary of Transportation has publicly apologized for the inconvience caused to the public although it was not the airport officials himself that caused the inconvenience. It was the Xiamen air incident.)
Roque nevertheless said "better" contingency plans should be laid out to avoid a repeat of the runway shutdown.
"Perhaps, we should look into contingencies kasi parang kaya naman nagkagulo, ang daming flights na dapat siguro kinancel na pero pina-antay pa rin yung mga pasahero," he said.
(Perhaps, we should look into contingencies because the chaos started when the flights were cancelled even though the passengers had been asked to wait.)
Castelo, in a separate press conference, slammed the airport authorities, saying they were not prepared for such emergencies.
“Just imagine, there is no contingency, there is no crane – we have to outsource the crane, there is no emergency plan should this thing happen so I think Congress as an oversight body should exert also its function so that we will be able to avoid repetition,” he said.
“If they need funds for the purchase of these things I think they have to go to Congress and we will be able to allocate funds for these also,” he added.
House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., who was present during the same press conference, said it is high time for the government to consider transferring the international flights from Manila to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
“Grabe ang traffic sa NAIA. We only have one runway, other countries, they have two run ways, three runways in an airport so I think it’s about time that we really transfer the international airport to Clark because Clark has two runways,” said Pichay.
“With regards to walang equipment na ano, probably you’re (Castelo) right, wala tayong contingency what if there will be an accident happening in the future dapat meron kang crane to be able to retrieve it (aircraft) within the next six hours," he added. (SunStar Philippines with a report from PS Jun Sarmiento)