CEBU, Philippines — Two weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman placed him under six months preventive suspension, lawyer Steve Dicdican continues to hold office as general manager of Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
“I’m still the GM,” Dicdican told The Freeman.
As of yesterday, assistant general manager Glenn Napuli said the suspension order has not been served yet.
The anti-graft office has ordered Dicdican’s suspension in connection with the charges filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Ombudsman Sammuel Martires found the evidence of guilt against Dicdican to be strong that warrants the imposition of preventive suspension.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was tasked to implement the suspension order.
Dicdican described as “unfortunate” the decision of the anti-graft body to place him under preventive suspension at this time of health crisis.
“It’s fortunate too since I can still handle this emerging situation with the new mutated COVID-19 strains and the change in travel and health protocols. During a pandemic, we really need all hands on deck. The Ombudsman ought to know that,” Dicdican said.
Napuli said they need Dicdican to continue his leadership during this time of crisis. According to him, Dicdican was the first airport official to declare a state of emergency on February 3, 2020.
Napuli claimed that such declaration saved the lives of several people because the early declaration prepared the airport for the pandemic while other government leaders ignored the imminent danger that time.
Napuli recalled how Dicdican was criticized then for allegedly sowing fear among the Cebuanos.
The NBI filed on December 4 a complaint before the Ombudsman against Dicdican and other airport officials, including the executives of GMR Megawide Airport Corporation (GMCAC), for alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law.
According to the NBI, Dicdican has allowed foreigners to operate the MCIA. Dicdican has since denied the accusation.
“The NBI complaint was so hastily filed that they did not bother to take time to give me any notice about it nor to do even a modicum of research or just google for that matter. Had they googled, they would know that the Concession Agreement was awarded to GMCAC years before I joined MCIAA,” Dicdican said.
Dicdican also stressed that the agreement between MCIA and GMCAC was upheld by no less than the Supreme Court. He added that if the NBI wanted to blame anyone in the government, they are one administration too late.
“MCIAA acts through its board baya and apil pud ang NEDA and DOTC at that time. Unsay labot nako ato nga wa pa man ko sa MCIAA. I’m caught in the crossfire,” Dicdican lamented. — FPL (FREEMAN)