CLARK FIELD, Pampanga -- The vice presidents and other top management officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) here are fighting back and threatening to file libel charges against the state-owned firm's president, Sergio Naguiat, who has accused them of graft.
Last Friday, Naguiat asked three CDC vice presidents and seven department managers to explain within 72 hours why criminal and administrative charges should not be filed against them for alleged irregularities.
"It was un-Christian and reeked of harassment, oppression and bad faith," said Francis Elum, vice president for business development.
In a memorandum, Naguiat threatened to file charges against Elum for allegedly signing import and "bring-out" permits to duty-free shops here without authorization, allowing investors to import duty-free vehicles, purchasing a personal car under the CDC car plan, insubordination and inefficiency related to the CDC's contract with the Mimosa Leisure and Resorts Corp. (MLRC).
But Elum said he was authorized to sign the import and "bring-out" permits way back in 1993 during the term of the first CDC president, Antonio Henson.
He said the vehicle importations of Clark investors were in accordance with Executive Order 80 which, he added, is also the basis for such importations at the Subic Freeport.
Elum said his purchase of a personal car was in accordance with the CDC car plan which 19 other CDC officials, including some whom Naguiat is set to promote, availed of.
Under the plan, the CDC advanced the payment for the vehicles which the beneficiaries amortized through salary deductions.
On the Mimosa controversy, Elum said: "I don't understand why I am being questioned on the MLRC issue."
Elum said he is consulting his lawyers for the filing of possible libel charges against Naguiat.
The other CDC officials who received Naguiat's ultimatum were also reportedly contemplating filing libel charges against the CDC president.
Besides Elum, those who got the ultimatum were vice presidents Rolando Tongco (technical services) and Buenaventura Antonio (administrative and finance), and department managers Monina Pineda, Milette Ocampo, Cynthia Marigundon, Lycette Ramos, Rudy Arias, Pepito Galang, Dean Santiago and Noel Mananquil, who all denied the accusations against them.
Meanwhile, hundreds of CDC employees walked out on Naguiat during a dialogue at the Bicentennial Park here last Monday.
The personnel, led by the Association of Concerned CDC Employees (ACCES), staged a noise barrage here for two days last week to denounce what they described as the "chaos" within the state-run firm.
The walkout took place after Naguiat asked those loyal to him to group themselves during the dialogue. Instead of responding to his suggestion, the employees walked out.
Naguiat earlier said that he would relieve those who received the 72-hour ultimatum, although he bared that Mananquil would be promoted to vice president for administration and finance.
Naguiat also announced that his executive vice president, Hilana Timbol-Roman, would be replaced by Eduardo Chanco.
In a statement yesterday, ACCES president Marc Caniones said, "The factions that now divide the CDC have caused anxiety and demoralization among our ranks."
"All we want is unity among the top management to better serve the locators, communities, employees and the rest of stockholders at the Clark Special Economic Zone," he added.