Probe urged on foreign airlines’ ‘lobby’ group

Congress has been urged to conduct an investigation into the alleged indiscriminate granting of privileges to foreign airlines, which some sectors say may have established strong ties with an advocacy group in the aviation industry.

"Congress could start its probe into the questionable granting of temporary operating permit to CLA Air Transport Inc. because it has embarrassed no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," the Save Our Skies (SOS) movement said.

The President was made to sign the resolution designating CLA as official cargo carrier between the Philippines and Japan despite its being allegedly controlled by Japanese investors and even without the document being ratified by the CAB board.

The SOS said the congressional probe should include the people behind the Freedom to Fly Coalition (FFC) for promoting the interests of foreign carriers, the latest of which is Emirates Air of the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, FFC has been accused of pushing for the signing of the air agreements with Singapore and Korea despite their being highly disadvantageous to the Philippines.

"Congress should investigate the people behind the FFC to unmask their background and who they are working for," the SOS said.

It said these FFC leaders have presented themselves as academicians and defenders of the tourism industry but are in fact allegedly working for foreign interests in the airline industry.

"Congress should likewise investigate where these people are getting their funds to pursue their activities. Their acts are a form of treachery and betrayal of the nation’s interests," it added.

Records from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed that the incorporators of the FFC are Mila A. Abad, Narzalina Z. Lim, Victor S. Limlingan, Ma. Cherrylyn S. Rodolfo and Jose Claro S. Tesoro.

Abad used to work for Philippine Airlines but left the airline under questionable circumstances. "Why did she leave PAL?" SOS asked.

Lim is a former tourism secretary but stepped down as Cabinet secretary when her nomination was about to be tackled by the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA). "Was she hiding something?" SOS asked.

SOS said Limlingan was a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board during President Ramos’ time and was slapped with graft charges by the Ombudsman for granting air rights to Singapore without the CAB’s approval and the President’s imprimatur.

Rodolfo is a professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific and is allegedly using the school to mount a campaign in favor of foreign airlines. Just last Nov. 8 and 9, she came out with an article in one of the broadsheets advocating for the resumption of air talks between the Philippines and the UAE and the granting of additional seat entitlements to Emirates Air and other Middle Eastern airlines despite the excess capacity on the route.

Tesoro used to be a member of the CAB. The SOS said the FFC has practically become the lobby group of foreign carriers in the Philippines and has used its influence in the CAB to push their interests.