MCIAA's Napuli suspended

CEBU, Philippines —  Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority assistant general manager Glenn Napuli has been placed under six months preventive suspension without pay effective yesterday due to complaints the National Bureau of Investigation filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered Napuli’s preventive suspension while the complaints against him are being investigated.

“Yes, starting today (Friday) wala na ko ni report sa office,” Napuli confirmed to The FREEMAN his serving the suspension order.

The order stemmed from the complaints for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the government filed by the NBI on July 7, 2021 after Napuli allegedly refused to give copies of the contracts that the MCIAA entered into with the airport concessionaires.

“These documents are undeniably under the custody of MCIAA having the principal control and supervision of MCIAA under RA 6958. Napuli, however, refused to furnish the NBI the requested documents needed for its investigation,” read part of the Ombudsman order.

The anti-graft body directed Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement the order dated July 13, 2021. DOTr Undersecretary for legal affairs Reineir Paul Yebra on July 15, 2021 ordered MCIAA general manager Julius Neri to implement the suspension order.

In his post on Facebook, Napuli could not contain his emotions.  He expressed his disappointment over what he described as high-handed decision.

“I'm disappointed kang Tugade after ko niya gigamit for 6 months that's how he repay me. Not even a text to ask what happened? Not even an offer to help,” Napuli lamented.

Napuli led the MCIAA as acting general manager for six months after former general manager Steve Dicdican was also suspended by the anti-graft office.

According to Napuli, it is impossible for him to produce the contracts that the NBI is asking because the MCIAA was never a party to the concession agreements or contract between the tenants and the GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).

“MCIAA has no copy of those contracts between GMCAC and their concessionaires,” Napuli explained.

“In many letters I have explained to NBI that we do not have those documents. We cannot produce something we do not have,” he added.

Napuli said he will never manufacture or fabricate documents just to please the NBI and the Ombudsman.

“This country is not safe for law-abiding citizens anymore.  For the DOTr, I was only good when they still can use me,” Napuli lamented.

Napuli also got the support of several MCIAA employees who wore black yesterday to express their solidarity with the official.

Meanwhile, Tugade said Napuli’s suspension was not a penalty.

“Nais kong liwanagin na ang preventive suspension po ay hindi isang decision o judgment. Ito ‘ho ay parte ng isang judicial  process kung saan magkakaroon ng imbestigasyon at determinasyon kung may pagkukulang o pagkakasala. Ako po ay makikipagtulungan sa lahat upang ‘yung katotohan ay lumabas. Huwag ‘ho nating lagyan ng haka-haka ang isang legal na proseso. Mahalaga ‘ho na magtiwala tayo sa proseso. The truth shall come out,” said Tugade. — Jomelou Menorias, CNU intern, FPL (FREEMAN)