Sacked PTA chief cries foul

Former Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) general manager Nixon Kua said yesterday he gained the ire of Malacañang which eventually cost him his job because of his close friendship with opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Angelito Banayo, a former adviser of jailed former President Joseph Estrada.

Kua, a guest of the weekly Kapihan sa Sulu, said President Arroyo’s sudden decision to replace him as PTA general manager came as a shock to him because under the law he is entitled to a six-year term.

Kua, an appointee of Estrada, said he was informed of the President’s decision to appoint Makati Councilor Robert Dean Barbers as his replacement through Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

"I am not guilty of any malfeasance. They simply accused me of being closed to the opposition, that is why they sacked me," Kua said.

He said that under the law, presidential appointees have a six-year term "unless removed for a cause."

"I am an appointee of former President Estrada, but I am not a politician and I have never been a member of any political party," he said.

Kua admitted that he owes a debt of gratitude to Lacson and Banayo.

"They should not choose my friends for me. My friendship with Sen. Lacson and Mr. Banayo is very personal," Kua said.

For his part, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Kua has every reason to resist and find out the validity of the order.

"Kua’s termination from his post sends a very bad message both to the government and the private sector because you can be dismissed from your post based on your political affiliation or closeness to the other parties," Pimentel said.