Check delivered to Roa: MCIAA ignores Ombudsman order

CEBU, Philippines - The Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority pushed through with the granting of the P500,000 severance pay to former tourism regional director Patria Aurora Roa despite a verbal order from the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas stopping such release as it is still determining its legality.

MCIAA board secretary Evelyn Ramirez admitted that she claimed the check from the cashiering division shortly before 5 p.m. last Friday and immediately delivered it to Roa’s house.

“Tua na kang Roa ang tseke ako dayon nga gihatag niya,” Ramirez told The FREEMAN yesterday afternoon. According to her, she had no idea about any order from the Ombudsman stopping the release of the check.

During its executive session last April 15, the MCIAA board passed a resolution granting the benefits to Roa in recognition of her exemplary services as member of the board.

But on Friday morning, Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago told MCIAA officials, through legal officer Glen Napuli, not to release the check pending the result of the inquiry to be conducted by the anti-graft body and the Commission on Audit.

Santiago had advised Napuli to inform airport manager Danilo Augusto Francia about her order.

The Ombudsman and COA are looking into the legality of Roa’s severance pay amid complaints raised by some MCIAA personnel questioning such grant considering that she was not officially connected with the MCIAA.

Santiago, however, did not insist on her order to delay the release of check, saying “sige na lang wala man gud dayon nato sila mapadad-i og formal communication.”

But she assured that they will pursue the investigation, saying if proven that the release of the retirement benefits to Roa has no basis, proper charges will be filed against those involved.

A few years ago, the MCIAA also granted “severance pay” to one of its directors when he retired as undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication.

But such expenditure was disallowed by the COA, which then demanded a refund from MCIAA.

Some airport employees expressed their disappointment over the move of the MCIAA officials, and on how the airport is being run.

“Walay uwaw ning mga tawhana. Maayo unta og mailisan kini sila kay aron matarong na ang pagdumala dinhi sa airport,” one of the personnel told The FREEMAN in a telephone interview.

Another employee, who also asked not to be named, said: “To me, that sounds like theft. They have lost all sense of decency and morality. Their wanton disregard of delicadeza is appalling, especially at a time when the new president is calling on the Filipino people to sacrifice for our country.”

“They choose to be so shameless and arrogant in enriching themselves at the expense of the public is sickening. Clearly, these officials dont deserve to remain in their posts a day longer. Otherwise, MCIAA’s coffers will be emptied by their greed. President Aquino should replace them all at once and the Ombudsman must prosecute them to the full extent of the law,” another angry employee said.

As a member of the MCIAA board, Roa received P30,000 monthly for her attendance in two board meetings.

The FREEMAN tried to get the reaction of airport manager Danilo Augusto Francia on the latest development but got no response.

Earlier, Santiago explained that her order to delay the release of the check does not mean that it will be held forever.

“Kon ihatag gud nato dayon ang tseke unya moingon ang COA nga illegal ang paghatag niini lisud na g’yud kaayo ang pagbawi,” Santiago said.

Francia earlier insisted that the granting of such benefit to Roa is aboveboard. He said under the law, the MCIAA has the power to grant retirement benefits to its employees, including the members of the board.

But former tourism undersecretary Phineas Alburo, who used to be an alternate-member of the MCIAA board before Roa, said the members of the board are not entitled to retirement grants because they already have such benefits from their own agencies.

The FREEMAN tried several times to contact Roa but she could not be reached for her comments. — /WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)