De Lima reminds PAL management, employees of their obligations to public

August 2, 2010, 1:26pm
Manila Bulletin

MANILA (PNA) — Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila De Lima on Monday reminded both the management and employees of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) that they have their obligations to the public.

De Lima, together with Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa, Jr., Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose "Ping" De Jesus and Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, is set to meet with the PAL management and pilot association Monday afternoon.
"We need to be able to help settle the dispute," De Lima said in an interview.

"This is not just simple employer-employee relationship because this is imbued with public interest so the government has to step in," De Lima added.

In the last two days, the PAL has been forced to cancel regional and domestic flights after 13 pilots and 12 first officers flying PAL Airbus A319's and A320's resigned from the flag-carrier.
The PAL pilots and first officers resigned allegedly due to lack of security of tenure, inconducive working condition and not competitive salary compared to other airlines.

On Saturday, the shortage of pilots either disrupted or cancelled 23 PAL flights, including one to Hong Kong.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that eight PAL flights from Manila to four destinations and vice versa -- Cagayan, Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo -- were cancelled last Sunday.
"We need to ensure that the laws are being complied with and we have to remind them of their obligations-both the management and the pilots," De Lima said.

De Lima stressed that the government need to study the situation and determine also if they can be held liable for their actions.

However, De Lima refused to give specific liabilities or case that could be filed against the PAL management and or its pilots.

"We need to get the full details of the situation first," De Lima pointed out.