APPEAL TO DUTERTE

MIASCOR seeks reconsideration, says 4,000 employees will be affected by contract termination

Following the termination of its contract by the Manila International Airport Authority's (MIAA), MIASCOR Groundhandling Corporation on Friday said it will appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte for reconsideration as thousands of its employees will be affected.

"We shall formally issue an appeal to the President to kindly reconsider his position on behalf of our almost 4,000 regular employees and their families who will be affected," MIASCOR said in a statement.

Duterte ordered MIAA to end its contract with MIASCOR after an OFW from Canada complained about the P82,000 worth of items that were stolen from his luggage at the Clark International Airport.

Six MIASCOR employees have been charged with theft over the incident.

In a written notice dated January 19 and addressed to MIASCOR president Fidel Herman Reyes, MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal ordered the company to leave the airport complex and its terminals in 60 days. 

According to the notice, the two parties' three-year-old lease and concession agreement expired on March 31, 2017 and shall no longer be renewed. Monreal said at a press conference that they are on a month-to-month contract.

MIASCOR expressed regret over the incident at Clark International Airport and once again extended its sincere apologies to Jovenil Delacruz, the OFW.

"It is unfortunate that the actions of six erring employees in Clark International Airport have negatively impacted the company," MIASCOR said.

"The recent incident does not define what MIASCOR stands for and how it operates," it added.

MIASCOR stressed that it has been in operations since 1974 and has presence in several key airports in the country, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"Many of our customers and the traveling public can attest to our service excellence and through the years the Company has been a major contributor to the growth of the country’s aviation and tourism industry," MIASCOR said.

"The company shall do everything it can to remedy the situation,"  it added.

MIASCOR also said that it immediately reached out to the OFW upon learning about the "unfortunate incident," and that both parties have already reached an amicable settlement.

"The company, together with airport authorities, also acted very quickly and placed those allegedly involved under preventive suspension. They have since been terminated and criminal and administrative charges have been filed against them," it said.

"We would like to stress that we do not tolerate this type of behavior from any of our employees," MIASCOR added.

MIASCOR said it is committed to conducting its business with the highest standards of compliance and ethics.

"And every employee is expected to demonstrate professionalism, honesty and integrity," it added. —KBK, GMA News