CBCP news report: Ex-PAGASA chief left for Australia

After leaving government service, former Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) chief Prisco Nilo packed his bags and left for Australia early this week, an article on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site said. According to the article, Nilo sent a text message to the CBCP news site indicating he was going to Australia. "The former PAGASA chief joins the ranks of another familiar media figure, Dr. Nathaniel Cruz, who earlier left PAGASA to seek greener pastures, literally and figuratively, in Australia," the article said. The CBCP article indicated that Nilo left the country on November 2, but it did not say if he would take a job in Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology where Cruz had sought employment. As of posting time, GMANews.TV could not independently confirm whether Nilo left the country. Two days before Nilo reportedly headed for Australia, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said the DOST received a letter from Nilo stating that "he had decided to avail of optional retirement from government service effective Oct. 31, 2010." [See story: Ex-PAGASA chief Prisco Nilo retires early] According to the CBCP article, Nilo opted for early retirement supposedly because the present government kept "marginalizing" him. “I have opted for early retirement because the present government did not stop marginalizing me," the CBCP quoted him as saying. Nilo lost his post as PAGASA chief last July after earning the ire of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, when cyclone "Basyang" lashed Metro Manila. [See story: Aquino sacks pagasa chief] At the time, Aquino told Nilo that PAGASA’s failure to predict Basyang's path was "not acceptable." Nilo was replaced by Graciano Yumul Jr. The article noted Nilo, who holds a PhD in Meteorology from the University of the Philippines, spent 26 years in government service. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV