Senate inquiry on PAL row sought

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. will be seeking a Senate inquiry into the row between the management and pilots of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), which has caused the cancellation of more than 30 flights since last week. "I will file a resolution urging the concerned Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the current dispute between the management of the Philippine Airlines and its 25 pilots," said Revilla, head of the Senate committee on public services. More than 30 flights have been canceled over the past few days after the mass resignation of PAL's pilots, reportedly to seek better opportunities abroad. PAL said the pilots allegedly resigned without giving the company ample time to train their replacements and has given them seven days to return to work or face sanctions. Revilla said the government must take immediate action to address the situation and prevent similar occurences from happening in the future. "PAL is a national symbol, the reputation of which must be protected. It is a reflection of our nation and may already be considered a national patrimony. Thus, the cancellation of its flights is not only detrimental to PAL's management but also to the image of our country," he said. In a separate statement, Senator Francis Escudero said the government can act as "arbitrator and mediator" to help both parties express their sentiments. “Let the PAL management and the pilots resolve the matter between them with all internal options available to them. If the series of negotiations prove to be futile, it is only then that the labor secretary should step in," he said. Escudero said the secretary of the Department of Labor can "assume jurisdiction" over the labor dispute if an amicable agreement between PAL and the pilots cannot be reached. “The secretary of labor’s jurisdiction to mediate between a private company’s labor disputes is motu propio when it is imbued with national interest," he said. He noted, however, that he is "optimistic" that the issue can be resolved "fairly" through dialogue. “Both camps should resolve this considering all interests at stake. No one should be issuing threats to anyone as this does not help in any arbitration process. Threats of charges in court will not help resolve the matter," he said. PAL executives and pilots met together with government officials on Monday but failed to resolve the row. (See: Govt officials meet with PAL execs, pilots but fail to resolve row) –VVP, GMANews.TV