Bryan Co designated as MIAA OIC after GM Chiong placed under preventive suspension

Manila International Airport (MIAAO) Senior Assistant General Manager Bryan Co will take the helm of the agency as officer-in-charge after its chief, Cesar Chiong, was placed under preventive suspension by the Ombudsman.

According to GMA Integrated News' reporter Joseph Morong’s tweet, Co was designated as officer-in-charge of MIAA on Wednesday after the agency’s board approved his designation in a meeting this morning.

At a press briefing, Co said that “the plans and programs will continue to move forward as far as the MIAA is concerned.”

The MIAA OIC said that the agency will continue to tackle the May power interruption at NAIA Terminal 3.

“There are ongoing investigations and as discussed with you the other day, we have the technical side and we have the other side that where we involved NICA (National Intelligence Coordination Agency). So those things are continuing smoothly. So the transition is very orderly as far as the functions that were being done in the Office of the General Manager,” Co said.

On May 1, a power outage hit Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, resulting in the cancellation of dozens of flights.

The MIAA said it is not ruling out sabotage as a reason behind the power outage.

On Tuesday, Chiong announced that he was put under preventive suspension due to a complaint alleging he committed grave abuse of authority.

Based on the Ombudsman’s order, Chiong along with MIAA Acting Assistant General Manager Irene Montalbo were placed under preventive suspension for alleged grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman said that Chiong appears to have abused his authority when he designated Montalbo as assistant general manager for finance and administration despite the latter’s unsatisfactory rating and when he reassigned about 285 MIAA employees.

The MIAA chief, however, is confident he will be cleared from the allegations.

"I am confident of being vindicated and cleared in the end, after I am allowed to present my side as a result of my vision and plan to improve airport efficiency and the financial standing of the authority," said Chiong. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News