MIAA drops MIASCOR after baggage theft incident

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has terminated its contract with MIASCOR Groundhandling Corporation following a recent incident of baggage pilferage where a returning OFW from Canada lost P82,000 worth of items at Clark International Airport.

In a written notice dated January 19 and addressed to MIASCOR president Fidel Herman Reyes, MIAA General Manager Eddie V. 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. Monreal said at a press conference that they are on a month-to-month contract.

Monreal told reporters that MIASCOR received the letter past 1 p.m. on Friday.

He could not give an exact number of how many employees would be affected after this development but said the matter has been taken into consideration.

The non-renewal of the contract came shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte himself ordered its termination after he got wind of the alleged pilferage at Clark airport. The culprits have reportedly been charged with theft but are out on bail.

Duterte, in his usual style, suggested that the people behind the theft should be "killed." —Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News