Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Manila International Airport Authority acting General Manager Cesar Chiong and acting Assistant General Manager Irene Montalbo, both of whom were preventively suspended in May.
The Office of the Ombudsman said it found Chiong and Montalbo guilty of grave misconduct, abuse of authority or oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
A copy of its decision showed that Chiong reassigned nearly 300 employees within his first month as acting MIAA general manager, while Montalbo helped him in the management of administrative matters including personnel movement.
The decision was signed on Aug. 4 but was made public on Wednesday.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires said the reassignment of certain employees were not made with the goal of achieving efficient delivery of service to the public.
“A number of employees, if not all, were transferred to a division/department or designated to a position where they have no knowledge or experience and could not very well function in a manner that the said division /department needs or the position calls,” Martires said.
One example cited was the reassignment of an electrical engineer from the electric division as manager of the airport police department, he added.
“In the event that the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced due to respondent’s separation from the service, the same shall be converted into fine in the amount equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year,” the office said.
In May, the Ombudsman suspended Chiong and Montalbo without pay for up to six months.
CNN Philippines correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this story.
