The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) general manager Steve Dicdican on Thursday, December 17. 

The order stemmed from a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against Dicdican and 15 others for allegedly violating the country’s anti-dummy law.

MCIA’s management awarded a 25-year concession for P14.4 billion pesos to GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), which the complaint said allowed foreigners to operate and manage the airport. “The concession was for the expansion and operation of MCIA,” the complaint read.

MCIA is one of the busiest international airports in the Philippines, hosting 17 international airlines, 8 local carriers with routes to 36 domestic destinations and 37 international flights.

The suspension is effective for a period of 6 months and without pay. 

Dicdican told Rappler in a text message he has not yet received the order, which was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Wednesday, December 16.

“This is obviously politics since this issue happened before my time and I am entitled to treat with a presumption of regularity the things that were approved and arranged before my time,” Dicdican said.

He pointed out that he assumed the role of general manager in 2016, while the contract was already signed in 2014.

“But my equanimity is not bothered as I am innocent,” he added. “The Christmas season serves as a reminder that we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. If the son of God could be charged falsely, who am I to complain when it happens to me? 

Aside from Dicdican, others named in the NBI complaint include GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) and its Filipino officers: Manuel Louie Ferrer, Edgar Saavedra, Oliver Tan, and JZ Dela Cruz.

Non-Filipinos were also named in the NBI’s complaint including 8 Indians: Srivinas Bommidala, Vivek Singhai, Ravi Bhatnagar, Ravishankar Saravu, Sudarshan MD, Kumar Gaurav, Magesh Nambiar, and Rajesh Madan.

An Irish and Ghanian citizen were also revealed as part of the management team of the airport through GMCAC.

“Evidence submitted by the complainant and gathered by the investigators showed that the foreign nationals were actually performing executive and managerial positions,” the NBI said.

The respondents would face charges for violating Section 2-A of the Anti-Dummy Law. 

 Dicdican was also charged with violating the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The preliminary investigation would begin in January, the Department of Justice said.  – Rappler.com