CEBU, Philippines — Ten of the 15 GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) officials involved in the case for alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law are currently out of the country.
They are Srinivas Bommidala, P. Sripathy, Vivek Singhal, Ravi Bhatnagar, Ravishankar Saravu, Michael Lenane, Sudarshan MD alias Sudarshan Madhav Doddathota, Kumar Gaurav, Magesh Nambiar alias Magesh Perayil Kanneth, and Rajesh Madan.
In a statement dated November 30,2021, GMCAC explained that the 10 respondents are international businessmen whose work requires them to travel.
"They are currently out of the country and were likewise abroad when the arrest warrants were issued," the statement read.
GMCAC, however, assured that the officials will be facing these allegations in court.
"We assure the court and the public that Megawide and GMR are committed to see this case to the end," GMCAC said.
"We believe that ultimately, truth will prevail and justice will be served. We have full faith in the country’s judicial system, and we vow to face the charges squarely and prove our innocence in court," it added.
RTC Branch 68 presiding judge Ferdinand Collantes ordered the arrest of 15 officials of GMCAC in line with the charges filed against them for allegedly allowing foreigners to manage and operate the Cebu airport.
Named as subjects in the November 25, 2021 warrant are Edgar Saavedra, Manuel Louie Ferrer, Oliver Tan, JEZ Dela Cruz, Bommidala, P. Sripathy, Singhal, Andrew Acquaah-Harrison, Bhatnagar, Saravu, Lenane, Sudarshan MD, Gaurav, Nambiar, and Madan.
Anna Salgado, Corporate Communications Manager of GMR-Megawide, earlier said Saavedra, Ferrer, Tan, Dela Cruz, and Harrison posted the recommended bail of P90,000 Friday.
Harrison is chief executive adviser while the rest are directors of GMCAC.
Former MCIAA General Manager, Atty. Steve Dicdican, who was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the case was not included as subject of the warrant. Dicdican has since been replaced by Julius Neri.
It can be recalled that Department of Justice indicted Dicdican and 15 others, including 11 foreigners, for allegedly awarding a P14.4-billion concession deal to a non-fully owned Filipino consortium. — KQD (FREEMAN)