Treñas doesn't want airport incident repeated
Iloilo City -- City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Tuesday met with representatives from the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Air Transportation Office (ATO) to ensure that a tension similar to what happened Friday afternoon at the Iloilo Mandurriao Airport would not be repeated.
Treñas was earlier reported to be fuming mad after learning of Friday's incident which resulted to the cancellation of the 4 o'clock flight of the Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Lawyer Gerry Sumaculub, RTC clerk of court, Deputy Regional for Operations S/Supt. Isagani Cuevas, S/Supt. Norlito Bautista, Iloilo City Police Office director, S/Insp. Kim Legada, precinct commander of the Mandurriao police station, were among those invited in the meeting.
Last Friday's tension was an off-shoot of the ejection order handed down by Municipal Trial Court in the Cities Judge Alexis Zerrudo in favor of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) in an unlawful detainer case versus Miaque. The ejection order covers Miaque's paid parking, carwash and security academy business at the Iloilo Mandurriao airport.
Legada, in a phone interview said the tension only broke out after the City Sheriff turned-over the premises to the ATO. A near shoot-out took place after the ATO guards took away the parking fee signs and replaced it with the "no trespassing" and "government property" signs.
It was Legada who made a special report regarding the incident. The same report was furnished to Mayor Treñas. Legada refused to provide a copy of his report arguing it was "confidential in nature." He admitted he was scolded by Bautista after the special report reached one radio station.
Legada said, the police were trapped between the two warring factions, ATO guards and Miaque's guards.
Legada said Bernie's brother, Ronnie, was also seen in the area. The police did not effect any arrest against Miaque's group but wait until the emotional heat subsides, said Legada.
Legada added that he went to Miaque's side while Supt. Floro, chief of the Iloilo City Mobile Group took care of the ATO guards. Later, he ran after Miaque's personnel who sought refuge at the Bernies Refreshment. He however did not enter the edifice as it was private property. The armed guards all hid at Bernie's place, he said.
Legada said, it is up for the ATO to file appropriate charges against Miaque's group since they were the ones claiming that they were harassed.