Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) terminated its contract with service provider MIASCOR Ground Handling Corporation in the wake of a recent luggage theft incident at the airport.
“We have given MIASCOR up to 60 days to wind down its operation during the transition period so as not to disrupt flights and operations,” Alexander Cauguiran, CIAC president and CEO, said in a press statement dated Jan 21.
Last Friday, the Manila International Airport Authority said it was no longer renewing the contract of MIASCOR prompted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement on January 18 that he wanted the company’s contract terminated after a pilfering incident in Clark airport involving six staff of MIASCOR.
READ: MIASCOR loses contract at Manila airport, will appeal decision
The notice of termination of MIASCOR’s services cut short the company’s groundhandling contract with CIAC originally set to end on September 7, 2024.
MIASCOR provided ground handling and ramp services at Clark airport to five international and domestic carriers.
As of January 9, Clark airport services 166 international and 212 domestic flights weekly or 54 flights per day.
“We’ll follow the command of President Rodrigo Duterte and (Transportation) Secretary Art Tugade not to allow a repeat of this incident,” Cauguiran said, adding that stringent anti-pilferage measures in coordination with airlines and other groundhandling companies in Clark are now set in place.
The pilferage incident reached the attention of Duterte who earlier met with Jovinal dela Cruz and Rosemary Verzosa, overseas Filipino workers from Pandi, Bulacan, who complained on January 10 that their baggage and boxes were pilfered at the Clark airport.
Six suspects, all MIASCOR personnel who were later terminated, were charged with qualified theft but are out on bail.
