MCIAA exec under ‘preventive suspension’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Ombudsman has placed the top official of Mactan airport under preventive suspension after cases alleging of anti-dummy law violations were filed against him.
In a resolution dated December 16, 2020, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered lawyer Steve Dicdican, general manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), to temporarily vacate his post for six months as the state’s anti-graft body conducts investigations on complaints that Dicdican and several airport officials allowed entry of foreign ownership on the airport.
This was in relation to the complaints filed by the central office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last December 14, 2020, accusing Dicdican and 15 others of violating the anti-dummy law for allowing foreigners to operate and manage Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
Martires, in his seven-page decision, revealed that the complaint from NBI’s Anti-Fraud Division stemmed from a certain Larry Iguidez.
“Considering his position as General Manager of MCIAA, and in order to prevent any possible tampering of evidence, harassment of witnesses, interference or exercise of influence by Dicdican, and/or withholding or concealment of pertinent records or documents, this Office finds justification to place respondent under preventive suspension pending investigation of this complaint,” portions of the document stated.
In a text message sent to CDN Digital, Dicdican said he has yet to receive a copy of Martires’ resolution.
“I have not been furnished any pleading or order yet from the Ombudsman… I have not even officially received a copy of the complaint yet,” said Dicdican.
“It would be contrary to due process to suspend me without giving me a chance to answer the allegations,” he added.
MCIA is the country’s second-busiest gateway. It is co-managed and co-operated by two bodies – the MCIAA from the government and GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).
GMCAC was a consortium formed by Megawide Construction Corporation and GMR Construction, an India-based engineering conglomerate.
Earlier, Dicdican slammed the decision of NBI to file cases against him and other 15 airport officials for allegedly violating the anti-dummy law.
He also questioned the timing of the cases.
/bmjo
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