Tension mars new Iloilo Airport's first day
Outgoing passengers check-in at the
state-of-the-art check-in counters of the
new Iloilo Airport.
Tension marred the first day of operations of the new Iloilo airport of international standards in Cabatuan town after porters in the old airport insisted in working in the the new facility.
Traffic was briefly stalled after airport security guards and members of the Aviation Security Group prevented around 50 workers employed by businessman Bernie Miaque from entering the main entrance of the airport.
The workers on board an Isuzu Elf truck led by Miaque's brother Ronnie arrived around 7:30 a.m. and managed to enter the entrance leading to the 3-kilometer access road where a brief standoff and shouting match with Air Transportation Office (ATO) security guards occurred.
Air Transportation Office (ATO) personnel
operates the modern x-ray security
machine.
The porters were stopped by more guards and members of the Aviation Security Group at the main gate leading to the airport compound, around 200 meters from the passenger terminal building.
The tension was diffused after three hours after ATO Assistant Secretary Nilo Jatico held a dialogue with Miaque.
Miaque said that he is merely exercising an order of the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 dated July 29, 2004 that upheld the validity of his contract with ATO to operate porterage and car rental services which he operated in the old airport in Mandurriao District in Iloilo City.
The contract which started on March 1, 1992 until March 2002 was automatically extended from March 1, 2002 to March 1, 2012 as provided in the contract, according to the court. The order became final and executory on May 23, 2005.
Newly-arrived passengers wait for their
baggage at the automatic baggage claim
conveyor.
The same court on July 4, 2002 issued a writ of preliminary injunction barring the ATO from terminating Miaque's porterage service and subjecting it to public bidding.
Miaque questioned why his party was not allowed to enter the airport.
"Why did they prevent us from entering? This is a public place," Miaque said in a telephone interview.
ATO Western Visayas manager Alan Java said the new airport does not need porters because passengers can use pushcarts to carry their baggages similar to other modern airports.
Passengers go out of the airport terminal.
Jatico said they have referred the issue to newly appointed ATO Assistant Secretary Eduardo "Red" Kapunan who will evaluate the issue. He said that no porter will be allowed until the issue is resolved.
Miaque has been operating various businesses at the old airport since 1989 but has been locked in a bitter dispute with the ATO over his businesses.
Miaque's restaurant at the old airport was demolished last month for unlawful detainer after a local court ruled that he failed to pay rental and concessionaire fees to the ATO.
The dispute between ATO and Miaque had disturbed the operations of the old airport in the past.
Photos by A. Chris Fernandez