Workers groups urge Pantaleon to show delicadeza by quitting

Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez was challenged by airport workers and other multi-sectoral groups to show delicadeza by resigning from his post and spare President Arroyo from the controversy hounding the Cabinet official.

Alvarez was bypassed for the fourth time by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress went on a Lenten break last Thursday because of the strong opposition to his nomination by aviation industry workers, trade, labor and youth organizations, community associations, travel and tour operators and business groups.

These groups, making up the Block Alvarez Movement (BAM), said the DOTC chief should not be reappointed by the President because of his major involvement in the scandalous government-Philippine International Air Terminal Co. (PIATCO) contract where the country was put at a great disadvantage.

The workers said Alvarez has become a liability to the Arroyo administration.

"After falling to get the CA’s nod last March 5, we are convinced that Alvarez has been cast as unfit to run the DOTC. We deem that a reappointment of Alvarez would be an overkill. Alvarez is the weakest link between the Arroyo government and the labor sector," BAM said.

BAM said Alvarez has become a burden to the Arroyo administration and the members of the CA, who have agonized over his nomination. "Is this country really wanting of deserving public servants?"

They stressed that Alvarez should emulate the action of former Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, who voluntarily gave up ambassadorship when he was bypassed once by the CA.

"It’s time Alvarez show delicadeza like Rodriguez, who unselfishly declined to be reappointed and generously spared the President and her administration from national embarrassment," BAM said.

The movement warned that reappointing Alvarez would only trigger an industry-wide labor unrest. "We call on Alvarez not to allow personal interest to prevail over industrial peace and progress. We call on Alvarez to give way and allow the Arroyo administration to keep its respectability."

BAM has accused Alvarez of compromising workers’ interests when he chose to uphold the deal despite the fact that more than 10,000 airport workers would lose their jobs when PIATCO assumes exclusive control of groundhandling services in the new airport.

The group said instead of calling for a review of the PIATCO deal, Alvarez has chosen to uphold it since he allegedly has a vested interest in the project.

Wintrack Builders, Inc., a company formerly owned by Alvarez, won multi-million peso contracts to clear subterranean structures and the grounds in the project site despite the absence of a track record in this kind of undertaking, according to a charge sheet filed against Alvarez before the Ombudsman.