Party-list group seeks CAAP head's ouster

MANILA, Philippines - The Akbayan party-list group is calling for the ouster of Alfonso Cusi as director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) due to his alleged links to former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and his being a “midnight appointee.”

Akbayan secretary general Edwin Castillo said Cusi’s close affiliation with Arroyo would enable him to protect several allegedly questionable deals forged during the previous administration involving certain navigational equipment and other civil aviation instruments.

Cusi, when asked about Akbayan’s allegations, declined to comment. “There has been so many things said on the issue already,” Cusi told The STAR in a telephone interview yesterday.

Castillo said Cusi was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 3, reportedly after he withdrew his bid to run for congressman in Occidental Mindoro. The ban on government appointments before the May 10 national polls started on March 10.

Castillo said Cusi’s appointment as CAAP director general was in itself questionable since he has no experience in the aviation industry, and the CAAP is vital in the government effort to regain Category 1 rating with the United States Federal Aviation Authority.

Castillo noted that Cusi was also involved in the alleged kidnapping of whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada at the height of the NBN-ZTE investigation while he was head of the Manila International Airport Authority. Airport security personnel allowed Lozada to be whisked by unknown people out of the airport through the “backdoor,” avoiding the usual immigration and customs checks, Castillo said.

He also said Cusi was also appointed as general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority despite a latent conflict of interest since he owned a private ferry service.