SBMA board throws support behind director

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) board, led by Chairman Felicito Payumo, have thrown their support for the continued stay of a former Olongapo City councilor who sits as director.

This, despite a resolution of the Olongapo City council asking Malacañang to replace Mamerto Malabute as the city government’s representative to the SBMA board.

Payumo expressed the board’s position in yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony, where he revealed an alleged plot to "destabilize" the operations of the Subic Bay Freeport.

The city council endorsed Malabute as SBMA director in a resolution in July last year. But five months later, the council withdrew its endorsement and declared Malabute a "persona non grata" for supposed loss of confidence.

Payumo argued that removing Malabute at this point "will make a mockery of the fixed-term rule."

"So he (Malabute) stays for another three years during the incumbency of the current government unit of Olongapo because they were the ones who made his appointment possible," he said. – Jen Velarmino