MANILA, Philippines - Alfonso Cusi has resigned as director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
President Aquino has named Ramon Gutierrez acting director general in his place.
However, Aquino said he has not yet signed the appointment papers of Gutierrez.
“We want to fast-track all of the problems that CAAP is supposed to be handling, among them the downgrade and the EU (European Union) blacklisting,” Aquino said.
“There are many things that are detrimental – to get from one place to the other in this country they have to go to a third country. That has to be handled, especially at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 1.”
In his letter to Aquino dated Dec. 20, 2010, Cusi, who has a fixed term ending March 2014, said the circumstances of his appointment have been politicized and that doubts have been cast on his integrity and management competence.
“His Excellency will agree that RA 9497 (creation of the CAAP) was promulgated to professionalize CAAP and His Excellency would also agree that this manner of politicizing a key government agency or any agency for that matter has no place in this administration; this goes against all your public declaration of proper governance,” read the letter.
“In spite of my four-year legal term, I submit my resignation for the sake of the CAAP organization, the aviation industry and ultimately the country.
“This will give Your Excellency a free hand to choose a new director general who will continue to carry out the needed reforms in the Philippine civil aviation industry and to whom the administration can give its full trust and confidence.”
Cusi took over the CAAP’s helm on March 3, 2010, a few months before then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stepped down.
Gutierrez is a retired Air Force colonel who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy. - Rudy Santos, Aurea Calica, Rainier Allan Ronda