AMWSLAI operations halted as managers battle for control

Operations at Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loans Associations Inc. (AMWSLAI) were suspended on Tuesday as two groups battled for the control of the savings and loan association for Philippine Air Force personnel. A new set of officers took over AMWSLAI management last Friday, led by president and chief executive officer Col. (ret.) Wilfredo dela Cruz. De la Cruz's group replaced the management team led by Col. (ret.) Ricardo Nolasco. Dela Cruz was appointed by four of six interim board directors last Friday following the issuance of an order by the Court of Appeals that invalidated the tenure of Nolasco and his group who won an election held on October 14, 2005. But the camp of Nolasco said the leadership of De la Cruz is illegal, noting that CA decision was "not yet final and executory." Nolasco said the CA order will be final only if their motion for reconsideration is rejected or if the Supreme Court decides on it. On Tuesday, Nolasco and his group arrived at the AMWSLAI building and ordered the suspension of the institution's operations. "We do not need an order from (lower courts where the case was initially filed) to make the CA order executory," said lawyer Ma. Lourdes Leonnes, who works with the group of De la Cruz. - GMANews.TV