Ex-PAGASA chief Prisco Nilo retires early

Dr. Prisco Nilo, former chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) whom President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino sacked, has quit government service. A statement from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo said the DOST received a letter from Nilo stating that "he had decided to avail of optional retirement from government service effective Oct. 31, 2010." PAGASA is an attached agency of the DOST. "With sadness, I have decided to endorse his request. I fully respect his decision and would like to thank him for his contributions to PAGASA," Montejo said. "I wish him all the best in his future plans," he added. For her part, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Thursday that Malacañang wishes Nilo luck on whatever his next endeavor would be. "We thank him for the service that he has rendered to the Filipino people and we wish him luck kung ano po ang magiging next phase po sa career niya at sa buhay nya," Valte said. Typhoon Basyang In August, Aquino sacked Nilo because of the latter's differences with the DOST leadership. Placed as PAGASA officer-in-charge for three months was DOST Undersecretary for research and development Graciano Yumul, who also served as PAGASA OIC in 2005. Nilo's removal came three weeks after Aquino reprimanded PAGASA for failing to predict that Typhoon Basyang would hit Metro Manila. Aquino said Nilo "never really bothered to explain" why Typhoon Basyang moved in a different direction. Aquino stood by his decision to sack Nilo even though it was criticized by many quarters, saying that he is standing by Montejo who reportedly has "irreconcilable" differences with Nilo. "He has really been trying to come to terms with Dr. Nilo but there are fundamental differences to the task at hand and I support my secretary's position on the matter," Aquino said. Hurt Nilo had said that he was hurt by Aquino's decision, and maintained that the president was given wrong information about him. "Outstanding nakalagay sa performance rating natin noong 2009, so mukang mali yung information na naibigay (My performance rating in 2009 was outstanding, so that shows wrong information about me was given to Malacañang)," Nilo said then. Asked what he feels about his removal from PAGASA, an agency he served for almost 27 years, Nilo said: "Siyempre hindi mo maitago yung sama ng loob. Normal naman siguro yun. Kaya para akong nilalagnat (Of course I can’t hide how displeased I am. I think that’s only normal. That why I don’t feel well)." — Jam Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV