DOT defers suspension order on Duty Free GM

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has set aside an order of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to suspend Duty Free Philippines (DFP) general manager Michael Kho.

In deferring the suspension order, acting Tourism Secretary Oscar Palabyab said PTA general manager Robert Dean Barbers has no authority to discipline and suspend Kho.

"It appears that the secretary of tourism did not issue the said order, nor has it been referred to the Board of Directors of PTA for decision… You are (therefore) directed to maintain status quo," Palabyab said in a memo to Barbers.

Palabyab stressed that the authority to appoint the general manager of Duty Free falls within the authority of the DOT secretary, in this case, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano.

He said the status quo would be resolved by Durano upon his return from abroad.

The other day, Barbers ordered the preventive suspension of Kho for 90 days due to alleged grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.

Preliminary investigation conducted by the PTA legal department, Barbers said, showed that Kho entered into anomalous transactions that resulted in loss of revenues for the government.

Barbers also noted that he was issuing the suspension order to prevent Kho from exerting undue influence on possible witnesses and tampering documentary evidence.

Kho filed a motion for reconsideration of the suspension order before the DOT. He belied the charges against him, claiming that all the transactions he entered into as DFP general manager were approved by the DOT. — Mayen Jaymalin