DOJ indicts ex-Cebu airport exec, 15 others

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of complaints for violation of the Anti-Dummy Law against former Cebu-Mactan International Airport Authority (CMIAA) general manager Steve Dicdican and 15 others, including 11 foreigners, in connection with the award of a P14.4-billion concession deal to a consortium that is not totally Filipino-owned.

DOJ Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said a panel from the National Prosecution Service (NPS) made the recommendation in a 48-page resolution dated Oct. 8.

The DOJ-NPS said among the respondents are Andrew Acquaah-Harrison, Ravi Bhatnagar, Ravishankar Saravu, Michael Lenane, Sudarshan MD, Kumar Gaurav, Magesh Nambiar and Ragesh Madan, who reportedly acted as executive officers, managers or employees of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.

GMCAC is said to be a consortium of Filipino company Megawide Construction Corp. and foreign firm GMR Group.

The respondents allegedly conspired with board officers and members of GMCAC – Srinivas Bommidala, P. Sripathy, Vivek Singhal, Manuel Louie Ferrer, Edgar Saavedra, Oliver Tan and Jez de la Cruz.

The CMCIAA awarded a 25-year concession deal to GMCAC for the expansion as well as the operation and management of the airport after the consortium won the bid for P14.4 billion.

The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier ordered Dicdican’s preventive suspension for six months in connection with the case.

The National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint against Dicdican before the ombudsman for graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.