MIAA hopes to start collecting P200 security fee by Jan. 15

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) hopes to start collecting a P200 "security and development fee" by Jan. 15 from all international departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals I and II.

Oscar Paras, MIAA senior assistant general manager, said the new fee will be collected by MIAA itself and not by airlines as earlier planned.

The MIAA has conducted public hearings for the imposition of the new fee since December 2005.

Alfonso Cusi, MIAA general manager, earlier said the security fee will be used to purchase the latest security equipment and gadgets for the NAIA international and domestic terminals, such as those used in other international airports around the world that lessen laborious baggage inspection at security checkpoints.

MIAA will now be collecting a total of P750 per passenger, since it is also collecting the P550 terminal fee from all passengers of departing international flights. — Rainier Allan Ronda

Pasay judge junks petition vs acting mayor

A Pasay judge has junked a petition filed by several City Hall employees against acting Mayor Allan Panaligan after the latter ordered their termination from office two months ago.

In a six-page order, Judge Pedro de Leon Gutierrez of the Pasay City Regional-Trial Court-Branch 119 said it was unnecessary to rule on the petitioners’ request, citing lack of jurisdiction of the trial court over the case.

"Disciplinary cases and cases involving ‘personnel actions’ affecting employees in the civil service including ‘appointment through certification, promotion, transfer, reinstatement, re-employment, detail, re-assignment, demotion and separation’ are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Civil Service Commission which is the sole arbiter of controversies relating to the civil service," the order read. — Rhodina Villanueva

Shooting at residence of Gonzalez’s son only accidental — NBI

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantaring said yesterday that based on the results of the initial investigation of its Special Action Unit, the alleged shooting at the house of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzelez’s son was an isolated case and may be considered an accident.

There have been speculations that the incident may be in retaliation for Gonzalez’s stand on the transfer of the US Marine convicted of raping a Filipina to the US Embassy.

"It appeared that at the height of the New Year revelry, between Dec. 31 and Jan.1, a stray bullet entered the bedroom of the Justice Secretary’s grandchild. It shattered the glass window, but it did not penetrate the thin curtain," said NBI-SAU assistant regional director Vicente de Guzman III.

He denied radio reports that the house was strafed or peppered with bullets and they only recovered a single slug. — Evelyn Macairan