Government drops Miascor over luggage theft

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is no longer renewing the ground handling services contract of MIASCOR Aviation Services due to pilferage incidents.

“Following the expiration of the lease and concession agreement dated July 8, 2014 between the MIAA and (MIASCOR on March 31 last year), please be advised that the agreement shall no longer be renewed,” MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal wrote in a letter dated Jan. 19 to MIASCOR president Fidel Herman Reyes.

Since MIASCOR’s contract expired in March last year, Monreal said the government has been entering into a month-to-month contract with the firm.

The decision to no longer renew the contract with MIASCOR was reached due to incidents of pilferage as well as upon orders from President Duterte himself.

While the number of pilferage cases has been reduced to seven last year from 26 in 2016, Monreal said the government’s aim is to bring it to zero.

To ensure the smooth transition in operations, MIASCOR is given 60 days to vacate and return all premises it has occupied inside the airport complex and terminals.

After MIASCOR stops its operations, Monreal said, carriers can choose from other service providers.

Carriers served by MIASCOR include Malaysia Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Air Hong Kong, Qantas Airways and Cebu Pacific.

The government would also implement other measures to put a stop to pilferage incidents.

Monreal showed boots used by ramp employees, one with an expensive padlock inside, presumably stolen from baggage.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said personnel in charge of handling baggage would no longer be allowed to have uniforms with pockets and boots or shoes that are loose.

Concerned personnel are likewise no longer allowed to bring or use cellphones while on duty or wear jewelry.

Tugade also ordered baggage handlers to wear body cameras.

Airport officials were asked to produce an initial 100 cameras, while security companies were directed to buy their own.

“We will make sure that the policy direction from the government, from the President and from the secretary will be strictly implemented, so we can clean the ranks at the airport,” Monreal said.

“Let this be a warning to all players at the airport that one more mistake will put their jobs and businesses at stake,” he added.

Last year, the wife of a foreign embassy official was a victim of pilferage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

For its part, MIASCOR said it would appeal to Duterte.

“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.

It also said the six erring employees involved in luggage theft at the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) have been terminated and criminal and administrative charges filed against them.

Duterte had castigated top officials of CIAC whom he summoned to his office at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang after another returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Canada complained about pilfered baggage.

He had also conveyed his apologies to the victims of the luggage theft at CIAC, Jovinal dela Cruz and Rosemary Verzosa, who were present at the meeting between the President and officials. 

Duterte warned CIAC acting president Alexander Cauguiran that he will face the axe if there is a repeat of the incident under his watch.  

“The next time, if it happens, I will fire you. Sigurado ‘yan. Basta may nangyari pa ulit na maski nakawan o ano (That’s for sure. If it happens again, stealing or other wrongdoing), I will fire you,” Duterte said.

He assured the victims that the incident will not happen again, adding that heads will roll should he receive another report of luggage theft from any of the country’s airports.

Tugade, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go were also present at the meeting.

Based on the official transcript of the meeting released by Malacañang yesterday, Duterte was obviously disappointed when Cauguiran informed him that the suspects have been charged for the theft. 

 It was at this point when the President said Cauguiran should have killed the suspects who, the airport official revealed, had posted bail.

Spewing invectives, Duterte said he would not allow any settlement of the case. 

Duterte said the incident “broke his heart” because he was hoping things would improve during his term.

MIASCOR, which has a strong presence in five major airports, describes itself as a premier aviation services provider in the country.

Duterte demanded that everyone, from airport officials to the service provider, should issue a public apology to the victims.

Duterte called the officials to Malacañang to reiterate his campaign against illegal activities at the country’s airports. 

He said he cannot renege on his campaign promise to OFWs that there will be no more theft of baggage, tanim-bala cases and other incidents at the airports. – With Christina Mendez, Rudy Santos