Marcos names new acting MIAA chief

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has appointed Eric Jose Ines as acting general manager and member of the board of directors of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

A transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Dec. 15 and addressed to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stated that Ines will replace former MIAA chief Cesar Chiong.

Chiong was ordered dismissed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires in August after he was found guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority.

Barely a month after he assumed office, Chiong ordered the reassignment of 285 MIAA employees with no valid reasons, according to the ombudsman.

Senior assistant general manager Bryan Co served as MIAA officer-in-charge while Chiong was under preventive suspension.

A seasoned airline manager, Ines was airport station manager of Etihad Airways and Gulf Air in Manila from 2006 to 2017 and from 1997 to 2006, respectively.

He was senior security official of Gulf Air in Manila and Southeast Asia from 1988 to 1997 and a trainee for airline operations of the same company from 1986 to 1987.

Ines, who is from Ilocos Norte, also served during the presidency of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. as senior executive assistant to the secretary of the Department of Local Government and Community Development (now Department of the Interior and Local Government) from 1973 to 1986.  – Rudy Santos