Column By Jesus C. Sison

Malaya
Saturday, September 19, 1998
By Jesus C. Sison

I cannot blame Lucio Tan and his board of directors for deciding to close down the Philippine Airlines. PAL has been losing a lot of money and it cannot stand to lose more money due to strikes of the employes and pilots. Tan must have realized the futility of industrial peace with the PAL employes and obstinate labor union officials who refused to open their eyes to the true financial condition of PAL. Some of them are being called "extortionists." Patay na ang PAL, papatayin pa nila?

President Estrada called a meeting with PAL management and or leaders. I do hope that the President can bring labor peace to PAL. If not, the closure of PAL on Sept. 23 will further set back our economy. This will hurt the Philippines most.