Press Release
January 20, 2008

SACKING OF ATO CHIEF MEANT TO CONCEAL DEEPER REASONS FOR AIR SAFETY DOWNGRADE

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said there are deeper reasons behind the US Federal Aviation Administration's downgrade of the country's aviation safety other than the alleged failure to comply with international standards.

Pimentel said he feels sorry for Asst. Secretary Danilo Dimagiba who was sacked as officer-in-charge of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) as if to tell the public that he should be blamed for the unfavorable US FAA decision.

Dimagiba served as ATO officer-in-charge for only three months. He replaced ATO administrator Nilo Jatico who was sacked by Malacañang for alleged misuse of agency funds.

"Dimagiba is not responsible for the downgrade of our aviation safety. If we talk about security requirements, these are already among the most stringent in the world," Pimentel said.

If heads should roll, it should be somebody else's, Pimentel said, in the face of reports that overtime pay claims of ATO's air traffic controllers have not been paid for more than a year now because funds are being withheld at the Department of Transportation and Communications, ATO's mother agency.

Pimentel said the downgrade appears harsh and unfair, because it came after the Senate and House of Representatives approved last December an urgent administration bill calling for the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority.

He said the new aviation regulatory agency is being formed precisely to enable the Philippines to address the weaknesses in its air transportation safety.

"More than meets the eye, the United States is actually telling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a non-too-subtle message that her days as president are numbered," Pimentel said.

"Like Efren 'Bata' Reyes in a game of billiards, the US is aiming at a ball but actually wants to get another one into the billiard table pocket."

The senator from Mindanao said the US wants the President to follow its lead in foreign policy initiatives, including the fight against terrorism more aggressively. Its industries may also want to sell us advanced technology in aviation matters or other fields.

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