Ombudsman orders dismissal of suspended MIAA chief, deputy

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of suspended Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Cesar Chiong and assistant general manager Irene Montalbo for grave misconduct, abuse of authority and misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The Ombudsman’s decision stemmed from the reassignment of around 285 MIAA employees in less than a year without basis and designation of Montalbo to her post despite her unsatisfactory rating as shown in the 2020 Office Performance Commitment and Review (OPCR) of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, the office which she headed.

“This Office finds substantial evidence to hold respondents liable for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. This office imposes upon them the penalty of dismissal from the service with forfeiture of all their retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service," the Ombudsman’s decision said.

"In this particular case, various orders were signed and issued by Chiong reassigning and designating several employees to different divisions/departments within MIAA and positions, respectively. The reassignment and designation of MIAA employees, however, were exercised with clear intent to violate the law,” the decision added.

Both Chiong and Montalbo were preventively suspended by the Ombudsman in April this year. 

In the event that the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced due to the respondents' separation from the service, the same will converted into fine in the amount equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and maybe deductible from respondent’s retirement benefits, accrued leave credits, or any receivable from his/her office.

The Ombudsman has tasked the Department of Transportation to implement its decision and submit  a  compliance report within five days from receipt of the said ruling.—LDF, GMA Integrated News