JE C.C.
A statement got issued to address the allegation made by one of Cebu Pacific’s pilots’ via a now-deleted post–that the outgoing Vice-President Leni Robredo caused flight diversions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Cebu Pacific Air Flight Operations Vice President Captain Sam Avila took command responsibility and offered VP Robredo his apology, for the erroneous and unfounded claim by one of its pilots via a social media post.
“While the pilot posted his commentary on his own accord, a post he has since removed, on behalf of Cebu Pacific, and as Head of our Pilot Group, I take command responsibility and apologize unreservedly to the Vice President and the general public for the actions of our pilot” he noted.
The Cebu Pacific pilot claimed that VP Robredo requested a priority landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and was placed under disciplinary review. The company issued a press statement, yesterday, May 17, which contained its apology to the Vice President.
Avila wrote, “Since becoming aware of the social media post by one of our pilots in reference to a flight of Vice President Leni Robredo, I confirm that the pilot has made it clear to us that he had no basis for his claim and was purely speculative and careless on his part.”
That post made by the pilot under review has since been deleted.
He also shared the company’s policies on social media posting stating, “Cebu Pacific has very strict social media policies covering all of its employees and such a post should not have been published. This is recognized by the said pilot himself. He is currently under disciplinary review in accordance with our Company rules and standards.”
Senator Tito Sotto, meanwhile, noted that while VP Robredo was already cleared of the pilot’s allegations, she has, in fact, the right to ask for prioritization at any airport in the country.
“Unfortunately, that pilot does not know that there are 3 persons in govt that are given landing and take off priority in all PH airports as CAAP knows,” he said in a tweet.
Unfortunately, that pilot does not know that there are 3 persons in govt that are given landing and take off priority in all PH airports as CAAP knows. https://t.co/N4eD21fNxF
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) May 16, 2022
According to a recent study, Robredo is among those who ran in the recently-concluded elections, whose reputation got damaged badly by disinformation.
The outgoing Vice President promised that she would continue her pursuit to fight fake news and disinformation once her planned volunteer network is already established after her Vice Presidential tenure is over.
