Report: Despedida turns into welcome-back party for MIAA chief

A despedida (sendoff) party turned into a welcome-back party for Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Melvin Matibag Friday night. Matibag was attending the sendoff when he received a call from new Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus instructing him to return to his post, a report on dzRH on Saturday said. According to the report, De Jesus reminded Matibag that leaving his post would be tantamount to abandonment of duty. Matibag, who had turned over his post to assistant general manager for finance and administration Herminia Castillo, again assumed his post. Assigned to MIAA's top post only last February, Matibag is not a career Civil Service Eligible Official (CESO). On the other hand, he said his return to his post, at least until July 31, was due to the “fine-tuned" Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 1 that Malacañang issued. “Base sa unang MC, ang interpretation natin isinunod sa unang MC na kailangan natin mag-turnover sa most senior CESO. Nagkaroon ng correction at nakita ko kahapon lang. Kailangan natin magpatuloy muna (I followed the first MC and turned over my post to the most senior CESO. But I saw the correction only Friday, so I have to stay at my post for now)," Matibag said in an interview on dzRH radio Saturday. He said he is always ready to turn over his post once his term ends. “Nakahanda tayong umalis diyan. Consistent tayo sa sinasabi natin at handa tayo tumulong sa ating magiging kapalit (I am ready to leave my post. I have been consistent on this. And I am willing to help my successor)," he said. On Thursday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda presented to media a revised version of MC No. 1 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The new version stated that presidential appointees who are co-terminus with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and those occupying positions created “in excess of authorized staffing pattern" are deemed separated from the service as of noon June 30. But it also said non-CESO occupying career positions will remain in their office until July 31, or until their resignations are accepted or their replacements appointed. It said agency heads who have resigned would be replaced by the next highest career officials. Contractual and casual employees, whose contracts expired on June 30, would be extended until July 31. Lacierda said the second version was prompted by questions on the uncertainty of the status of non-career personnel because of the first version of MC No. 1. — LBG, GMANews.TV