MIAA assistant general manager goes on leave after being tagged in Senate smuggling probe

August 23, 2017

The Manila International Airport Authority  (MIAA) has designated an officer-in-charge as temporary replacement for Assistant General Manager Allen Capuyan who went on leave Tuesday after his name was cropped up during in a Senate hearing on smuggling.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal designated Romeo Labador, a retired military general, as OIC for the agency's security and emergency services division.

Capuyan, according to Monreal, filed his leave of absence after Customs broker Mark Taguba tagged him at a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, in alleged irregularities at the Bureau of Customs.

"After I came back from Clark (Tuesday afternoon, Col. Allen Capuyan came to see me. He filed his leave of absence saying he wants to focus his efforts in clearing his name after it was  mentioned by Mark Taguba in today's Senate hearing. I respect his decision; so effective Wednesday August 23, I am designating an Officer-in-Charge to replace him during his absence," Monreal said in a statement.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing presided by Senator Richard Gordon, Taguba said one "Tita Nani" introduced him to a group led by a certain "Noel" and Capuyan, who allegedly used the alias "Big Brother."

He added Capuyan sent him an e-mail containing tariff codes that would give him access to the green lane, where shipments will be placed under minimal inspection. DMS