THE government has rejected the appeal of Miascor Aviation Services to reconsider its decision to terminate its contract with several airports in the country following the alleged involvement of some of its employees, particularly the ground handling personnel, in baggage theft.
This developed shortly after the Manila International Airport Authority and the Department of Transportation came up with a joint statement denying the appeal of the firm addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“After careful evaluation of facts surrounding an incident of baggage pilferage involving Miascor’s employees, and in line with the clear directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for Miascor’s contract to be terminated, the DoTr denies the appeal of Miascor and stands firm in its decision not to renew the company’s contract with the Manila International Airports Authority beyond April 2018,” the DoTr-MIAA joint statement read.
It added “The President has also said that he will not entertain any appeal from Miascor Aviation Services.”
MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal said the leasing and concession contract of Miascor with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was not renewed following its expiration last year.
Two months ago, a returning Filipino overseas worker claimed his luggage was pilfered at Clark International Airport.
Five employees of Miascor were suspended and placed under investigation in connection with the case.
In August 2016, four employees of the company were also involved in the theft involving pieces of jewelry owned by the wife of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
To stop the baggage theft incident at the airport, Monreal formed a special team from the agency’s police department tasked to wipe out erring individuals involved in the said irregularities.
Monreal hinted that airport baggage handlers did the wrongdoing in cahoots with other airport employees.
He also ordered all baggage handlers and security providers at the airport to wear body cameras while on duty to prevent incidents of baggage theft.
In NAIA alone, some 26 pilferage cases were reported in 2016 and 18 of them reportedly done by ground handlers of Miascor, according to Monreal.
The number of pilferage cases has been reduced from 26 to seven last year.
In a statement, Miascor management said the firm “sincerely regrets the recent incident at Clark International Airport and we again extend our sincere apologies to Mr. Jovenil Dela Cruz.”
It added: “The Company, together with airport authorities, also acted very quickly and placed those allegedly involved under preventive suspension.
“They have since been terminated and criminal and administrative charges have been filed against them. We would like to stress that we do not tolerate this type of behavior from any of our employees.”
Miascor appealed to President Duterte to reconsider his position “on behalf of our almost 4,000 regular employees and their families who will be affected.”
“It is unfortunate that the actions of six erring employees in Clark International Airport have negatively impacted the Company.”
